NASA’s Juno spacecraft captures shockingly fiery images of Jupiter’s moon Io
At the end of December, Jupiter’s lunar weather was partially illuminated with a fiery red glow when a volcano erupted and plumes of gases and lava spewed out. NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured images of the volcanic plume during its 17th flight from the planet. The gas giant’s moon is considered to be the most active volcanic body in existence.
The ‘Christmas star’, a rare celestial event that occurs when Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in the solar system, form a dual planet, was one of the highlights of 2020.
True to form, 2021 promises to crown it.
This weekend, Mercury will join the two gas giants in what is called a ‘triple conjunction’, as the three planets will be in the night sky within a few degrees of each other.
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“From Friday night to Monday night, the planet Mercury will appear to pass through Saturn first and then through Jupiter, as it moves away from the horizon, is visible low in the west-southwest every night and sinks before dusk ends,” NASA wrote. his website.
According to Forbes, the three planets will be in the same air degrees in the Capricorn constellation.
EarthSky.org notes that aerial viewers may need binoculars to capture some of the planets, but the event can be seen by first looking at Jupiter and then spotting Saturn and Mercury. Jupiter will be the brightest of the trio.
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The science website adds that it is best to find an “unobstructed horizon towards sunset” to see these planets, starting with star gazing no less than 45 minutes after sunset.
Unlike the ‘Christmas Star’, this triple amalgamation of planets took place recently, which last took place in October 2015. By comparison, Jupiter and Saturn form a double conjunction once every about 20 years, although the most recent event was the closest the two have been to each other since 1226 AD
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After this weekend, the next time the trio will form a triple collaboration, February 13, 2021, just before Valentine’s Day.
The next two triple conjunctions are set on 20 April 2026 (Mercury, Mars, Saturn) and 16 June 2028, when Mercury, Venus and Mars form the occasion.