Posted in Delaware
December 14, 2020
A Christmas Star Will Light Up The Delaware Sky For The First Time In Centuries
December 21 is always a notable day – the winter solstice is a time when many celebrate a new season and the shortest day of the year (it’s all uphill from there, for those of us who like daylight!). This year, though, stargazers and astronomers are counting down the days until the 21st for a different reason. For the first time in eight centuries, the Christmas Star will appear in the sky!
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The evening of the solstice will bring the near merger of Jupiter and Saturn, as visible from Earth.

To get an idea of how close Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be in the sky, stick your fist out at arm's length towards the sky. The width of your fist is ten degrees - and the planets will be less than .1 degrees apart!

A great conjunction like this hasn't been observed since 1623, and the two largest planets haven't been this close since 1226! If you miss it this year, you'll have to wait until 2080 for a chance to spot it again.

The alignment and the bright "star" it causes is said to be the phenomenon that guided the three wise men to Bethlehem.

The evening of the solstice is the longest night of the year, so you've got plenty of time to see it!
To find the darkest skies in Delaware, use the Dark Site Finder map. Sussex County’s beaches tend to be particularly bright, and Brandywine Creek State Park’s Hawk Watch Parking Lot is a great place to stargaze.