ON December 21 a “Christmas star” will light up when Saturn and Jupiter come together during a Great Conjunction.
But what is it and how rare is it? Here is everything you’ll need to know…
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What is the ‘Christmas star’ visible on December 21?
The “Christmas star” is when two astronomical bodies meet in a celestial dome called the Great Conjunction.
On December 21, Saturn and Jupiter will appear just 0.1 degrees apart, the closest conjunction since 1623.
The planets will move so close that their brightness will merge to appear as one bright light.
Their alignment, according to astrologers, represents a changing of an era, and a time where we shift our way of viewing the world.
Some people have argued that the Great Conjunction could have been the Biblical Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus.
However, not all Bible experts have accepted this theory.
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How rare is the Great Conjunction?
The Great conjunction occurs every twenty years or so and is when both Jupiter and Saturn align at the same degree of the zodiac.
Next week’s Great Conjunction will not be matched until March 15, 2080, so this might just be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
A Great Conjunction similar to the one we will see on Monday has not been seen for 800 years.
On December 21, the Christmas Star will dip below the horizon by 6.30 pm GMT.
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What else happens on December 21?
In the Northern Hemisphere December 21 usually marks the shortest day of the year.
Because of this it is sometimes regarded as the first day of winter – or the Winter Solstice.
In the Southern Hemisphere, December 21 is often the longest day of the year and occurs during the southern summer.
December 21 also means it is 10 days remaining until the end of the year.
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