The great conjunction in the evening sky of Ireland
Jupiter and Saturn were seen almost together over Dublin, Ireland on Sunday. (Credit: Gary Stevenson through Storyful)
Fascinating videos of the anticipated “Christmas Star” were captured around the world on Sunday and Monday.
The astronomical event was nicknamed the “great conjunction” after the astronomical phenomenon was first observed in 1623.
This year, the celestial alignment will be visible in the night sky for several days.
The great conjunction on Pakistan
Jupiter and Saturn lined up in the night sky over Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, December 21 (Credit: Abubaker Shekhani via Storyful)
The great conjunction over Miami
Jupiter and Saturn lined up at sunset in Miami Beach, Florida, on Monday, December 21st.
In videos from the US, India, Pakistan and Ireland, a bright white circle, which is Jupiter, can be seen in close connection with a flat, orange disk shape that is Saturn in the night sky.
It is the first time that Jupiter and Saturn have been so close to each other in almost 400 years, according to NASA.
Although Jupiter and Saturn cross each other regularly and line up once every 20 years, almost 800 years have passed since the alignment took place at night, allowing almost everyone around the world to observe the event, NASA said.
Freeze the awful image of Jupiter and Saturn in the “Great Conjunction” over Dublin, Ireland. (Gary Stevenson through Storyful)
LINKED: “Christmas Star”: Jupiter and Saturn line up at the nearest distance in 400 years – here’s how to watch
“Jupiter and Saturn will be only 10 degrees away in the sky, which is so close that if you extend the pink at arm’s length, you will be able to easily cover both planets with your pink.” Henry Throop, an astronomer at NASA, said.
The great conjunction on India
Jupiter and Saturn lined up in the night sky over Kerala, India, Monday, December 21 (Credit: Skp Vishaal via Storyful)
The planets will be visible to the naked eye when they are headed southwest immediately after sunset, according to NASA. On Monday, they would appear so close that an arm-length pink finger would cover both planets in the sky, NASA said.
Stargazers can see the “Christmas star” on the evening of December 21 on the same day as the winter solstice, which is when one of the poles of the Earth has its maximum inclination away from the sun.
Storyful and Stephanie Weaver contributed to this report.