[과학]Close-up of Jupiter and Saturn embroidered in the night sky at the end of the year

[앵커]

Recently, Jupiter and Saturn are appearing in the night sky as if they were a single star.

Last night, it is said to be the closest in 400 years in terms of distance and 800 years in terms of what we can see.

Let’s take a look at the’great proximity’ phenomenon of Jupiter and Saturn with the reporter. Reporter Jeong Hye-yoon!

Last night’s space show was broadcast live on YTN YouTube. Did you see Jupiter and Saturn well?

[기자]

From yesterday afternoon, the sky became cloudy, and I was worried.

However, the sky cleared around the evening, and fortunately, I was able to see the last space show in 2020.

The screen you’re seeing is Jupiter and Saturn taken with a telescope.

If you zoom in a bit, you can see Jupiter’s characteristic Great Red Spot and Saturn’s rings.

The distance between Jupiter and Saturn will increase, but by the end of December, you can see both stars simultaneously in one field of view.

[앵커]

There were mixed claims that Jupiter and Saturn had’great proximity’ in 400 years or 800 years. Which one is correct?

[기자]

Jupiter’s orbiting period is about 12 years, and Saturn’s orbiting period is about 30 years.

So, the two planets are approaching close every 20 years.

But among them, it has been 397 years since 1623, about 400 years, that the two planets get this close.

However, at the time, the two planets were too close to the Sun, making observations difficult in most areas.

It is clearly visible from the ground, and it has been almost 800 years since 1226 that the distance has been close.

‘Great proximity’ like this year can only be seen again in 2080 after 60 years.

[앵커]

There is also a theory that it is the’Christmas Star’ who led the Magi over the’great proximity’ of Jupiter and Saturn?

[기자]

That’s right.

In 1604, German astronomer Johannes Kepler argued.

Around the time of Jesus’ birth, a peculiar phenomenon occurred in which Jupiter and Saturn met three times from spring to winter.

This is because of the so-called retrograde phenomenon in which an exoplanet outside the Earth overtakes the Earth in orbit.

It happens once in hundreds of years, and there is a possibility that the unusual stellar movement led the Magi.

This is YTN Jeong Hye-yoon.