You'd be forgiven for not feeling all too festive this year, what with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic foiling our Christmas plans...
But worry no more!
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Because despite the total state this year has been, it isn't
all doom and gloom.
There has just been a very exciting announcement regarding the rare "Christmas Star"...
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And it might just be set to save your once-gloomy Christmas vacation.
Keep scrolling for the full story...
Now, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year...
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Well, it
usually is, anyway.
But this year, the festive spirit has never been so low.
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Thanks to the utterly treacherous year 2020 has been, Christmas morale is sparse, and people are instead eager for 2021 to arrive.
Many Christmas plans have been canceled this year...
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And, thanks to the social-distancing restrictions still in place all over the world, a record number of people are having to spend the festive period without their loved ones.
It's a pretty bleak and lonely time for many this year...
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So, this week's news of the rare Great Conjunction phenomenon is bound to lift the spirits of those feeling not-so festive.
The event is more commonly referred to as the "Christmas Star" or "Star of Bethlehem"...
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As some believe the star that guided the 3 wise men to Jesus could have been an extremely rare triple conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.
When these planets align, they create a bright light...
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Which gives them the appearance of a large star.
But the Great Conjunction is incredibly rare.
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Astronomers say that the phenomenon only happens once every twenty years - and even then, it isn't always visible to the naked eye.
So that's why this week is so important.
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It has been reported that the Great Conjunction will be occurring...
Tonight!
Yep, this evening (December 21st, just to clarify), Jupiter and Saturn will align...
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The closest in the night sky since 1623.
And, to make this even more exciting...
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This will be the first conjunction to be visible to the naked eye since 1226.
And, for those of you not planning on viewing the Conjunction...
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Astronomers have warned that you may have to wait until 2080 for the next one - so it's best not to miss it.
Of course, people are very excited to catch a rare glimpse of the Christmas Star...
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So, where and when will you be able to see it?
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Well, according to
Forbes, it will all happen just after sunset in the southwestern sky and will take place low to the horizon.
There can be no wasted time, though...
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Because the 2 planets will sink below the horizon about 2 hours after sunset.
Make sure that you are somewhere with a good view low to the southwest horizon about forty-five minutes after sunset.
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Find out the exact time of sunset where you are
here. Happy stargazing!
For more astrological phenomena, scroll on...