The Great Conjunction

Next week marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. “The darkest evening of the year” is going to be a little brighter in 2020 thanks to a rare astronomical sight called a Great Conjunction. The planets Jupiter and Saturn will be lined up in the sky. A version of this happens every couple decades — but this year is special — it’s the closest our solar system’s largest planets have appeared in centuries.

The 21st spoke with the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and author of the book, “Astronomy Lab for Kids.” to hear more about this phenomena.

Guests:

Michelle Nichols, Director of Public Observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and author of the book “Astronomy Lab for Kids”

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi. 

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