Jupiter and Saturn Great Conjunction: Stunning photos show ‘Christmas Star’ shining in the night sky across the world
JUPITER and Saturn came closer together last night than at any other time in the past 400 years.
Cloudy weather ruined the once-in-a-lifetime event for many stargazers in the UK but luckily photographers all over the world were able to capture stunning snaps.
How far away is Jupiter from Earth?
Learn how long it takes to get the largest planet in the solar system...
- At the closest point in their respective orbits, Jupiter and Earth are around 365 million miles apart.
- But because neither planet spins around the sun in a perfect circle, nor at the same speed, this number fluctuates dramatically.
- When they are furthest apart the planets are 601 million miles apart, more than two thirds farther away than they are at their nearest.
- As it is further away Jupiter takes 11.86 Earth-years to complete one orbit of the sun.
- While we travel around our star we catch up with the gas Giant once every 399 days, causing the gas giant to appear to travel backwards in the night sky.
In other space news, dead alien civilisations could be littered all over our galaxy, according to a new study.
Alien hunting astronomers are investigating a strange radio wave emission that seems to have come from a nearby star.
And, ESA researchers think they've spotted an angel on Mars.
What are your thoughts on the Great Conjunction? Let us know in the comments...
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