Five days left to the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction on 21 December! Whenever you happen to glimpse at the SW sky at dusk, two bright stars that are slowly getting closer day by day should catch your attention. They are Jupiter and Saturn.

Although the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction comes around every two decades, it is particularly special this time as the two planets, separated by a mere 0.1° or 6 arc min, will enjoy their closest encounter in the last 4 centuries. You may wonder how an angular distance of 1° in the sky looks like. Extend your hand to arm's length, your index finger-tip will be about 1° wide. You should now realise how small 0.1° really is! A casual look can be difficult to tell them apart, but if you observe them through telescopes, they could be visible in the same field of view.

The Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction this year also comes with a festive tinge because of its close proximity to Christmas. Actually astronomers through the ages have speculated that the "Star of Bethlehem" might actually be the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction!

If you wish to witness this event, look for an open area and gaze upon the SW sky after sunset on 21st. The brighter Jupiter will show up first and when twilight sets in at around 6:30pm, you may see Saturn. Challenge yourself and try to tell them apart with your naked eyes. Make good use of your time to enjoy as the two planets will dip below the horizon after 8pm. We will livecast the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/hkspacem) and no registration needed. The link will be shared on that day. Please click on the link to join! Stay tuned!