“Christmas Star” To Be Visible for First Time in 800 Years

December 21st is the first day of winter, and it's also the night where we could see the phenomenon known as the “Christmas Star” for the first time in nearly 800 years.

The “Christmas Star” is not really a star at all, it's two planets Jupiter and Saturn will form what's called the “Christmas Star” on winter solstice. The two planets appear close to each other just about every 20 years, but this year, they will be closer than they have been in almost 800 years.

According to Astronomy.com, you will want to look Southwest in the sky about an hour after sunset. Jupiter and Saturn will be so close together that they will appear as one huge light in the earth's night sky. Astronomy.com says that the two planets will be so close together that you will be able to see them at the same time through a telescope. They report the last time these two stars were so close together was 1226 A.D.

I love staring at the stars. If you do as well, you're not going to want to miss this event. If the skies are clear on December 21st, you are going to want to find a dark place away from the street lights, preferably on top of a hill, with a clear view of the Southwest sky.

According to astronomy.com even though it is been a long time since this has occurred, we won't have to wait as long to see it again. They're saying that it will happen again in the year 2018. But how many of us will still be alive in 60 years? So really, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of us.

Don't miss it.

[via: Astronomy.com]