The Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

12/21/2020

Faizan Khalid and Amrit Sian

The two biggest planets in our solar system will come closer than they ever have since the Middle Ages.

As the year 2020 comes to a close, it seems as though this time has only brought misfortune and hardship. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, and many other influential figures have passed away this year. We have suffered from some of the worst wildfires in history, having severe effects in Australia and the state of California. The ongoing pandemic has taken the lives of countless individuals. The universe has decided to give us another unexpected, but far more pleasant, surprise. For the first time since March 4th, 1226, the planets Jupiter and Saturn will closely align in the night sky, forming what astronomers call a ‘conjunction.’

"Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another," said Rice University astronomer and professor of physics and astronomy Patrick Hartigan. The two planets will appear as one, resembling a double planet. This appearance means that no particular instruments will be needed to observe the alignment.

On the night of the Winter Solstice on December 21st, just an hour after sunset, expect an unusual sight in the night sky. Because these planets will be aligned closer than ever before, this event will give scientists the appropriate conditions to truly examine these planets from the earth and compare and contrast the magnitude of the two planets.

While 2020 has most certainly let us down, this particular event may be uplifting for many individuals. It is recommended by astronomers and scientists to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by simply observing the night sky on December 21st.

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B-Line students write articles that capture what it means to be part of the Barstow community, and record, review and analyze current events.

B-Line's origins date back to 1897, when students published "The School Paper," from Barstow's Quality Hill campus. It was published under various names in following decades, including "The Cornpatch," when Barstow moved to State Line in 1961. Today, B-Line is primarily a digital publication.

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Ms. Scott is an expert in communications, both spoken and written. Besides leading the staff of student journalists at B-Line, she teaches Advanced Debate and middle school Introduction to Debate, International Studies and Current Events.

She attended high school in the Wichita area where she occupied herself with debate and writing. Ms. Scott obtained her degree in secondary education (speech/ theatre) with a minor in communication studies from Kansas State University. She received her master’s degree in communication from Baylor University in 2018.

She believes every student should be a capable communicator and self-advocate shaping their own future. She finds that both mass communication settings like B-Line and rhetorical settings like debate prepare students for their future.