Google Doodle celebrates Winter Solstice Great Conjunction Nigeria 2020
As the U.S. heads into colder months, two astronomical events are sure to delight, and give us an excuse to go outside and look up in wonder at outer space.
The winter solstice, when the sun appears at its lowest point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, will also be when it appears to be at its farthest southern point over Earth, located over the Tropic of Capricorn.
The latest Google Doodle celebrates Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction with an animated graphic on December 21. Winter solstice usually takes place between December 19 and December 23 in the northern hemisphere. Today’s animated Doodle “celebrates the Northern Hemisphere’s first day of winter as well as this rare double planet sighting- or “Great Conjunction”- which can be viewed from anywhere around the globe!”
December 21 marks the Winter solstice in northern hemisphere and is the shortest day and longest night of the year. The exact opposite happens in the southern hemisphere. The Great Conjunction occurs when Jupiter and Saturn overlap in the night sky. The Jupiter Saturn Great Conjunction is being referred to as the ‘Christmas Star of 2020’.
According to NASA, this event will take place after approximately 400 years since the planets were this close to each other in the sky and almost 800 years after Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the night.
How to View the Longest Nights of the Year – Winter Solstice Great Conjunction
Skywatchers need to find a spot that provides an unhindered view of the sky. Since Jupiter and Saturn are bright planets, they can also be sighted from cities. You need to look to the southwestern sky an hour after sunset.
Jupiter will be easily visible and look like a bright star whereas Saturn will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter and will look slightly fainter. Jupiter will then overtake Saturn and both the planets will interchange positions in the sky.
Winter solstice Great Conjunction visibility in Nigeria
According to Professor Augustine Ubachukwu of the Physics & Astronomy Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), “From our Nigerian location between four degrees North and 14 degrees North latitude, the planets are up about 24 degrees above the South-Western horizon at twilight.
“To be successful in observing this conjunction, you will need to have a clear South-Western horizon and no low clouds in the distance.
“A difficulty with the December 21, 2020 conjunction for many observers is that its separation from the Sun is only 30 degrees, but that separation is good enough to see as the sun goes down below the horizon at dusk.
“About 24o up the South-Western horizon, you can find them by looking for Jupiter which is currently the brightest planet in the night sky right after sunset.
“Saturn will appear just east of Jupiter as a dimmer planet, it is significantly fainter than Jupiter, and will be the most difficult to see, but once you find Jupiter, Saturn will be right next to it,’’ Ubachukwu said.
He said that as long as the event and observing the sunset was clear, it would be successful to view with the naked eyes, hence no telescope would be required to see it from Nigeria.
He, however, told people interested in witnessing this event not to fright when their local weather doesn’t allow them view the event on December 21, adding that it was on-going.
“Any time from December 17, through Christmas, the two planets get closer, you will see them appear to slowly draw closer in the days just before December 21, and slowly move apart in the days after.’’
Ubachukwu, however, said that observers without a telescope may find it a challenge to resolve both planets at the peak of the conjunction and would need binoculars for clearer view.
He said the great conjunction was a rare event whereby the last closeness was in the year 1653, and the planets won’t match that proximity again until March 15, 2080.
According to him, one will have to stay alive for another 60 years to see it again. (NAN).
The conjunction is being called Christmas Star because though the planets will appear to be apart from one another, they will appear as one big star like the Star of Bethlehem which appeared in the eastern sky on the birth of Jesus Christ.
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