It is an intergalactic trio that does not involve Uranus.
Did you find the “double planet” of 2020 impressive? This weekend, stargazers can witness Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn sharing the sky as part of a stunning “triple conjunction”.
As a service to skywatchers, we’ve gathered everything you need to know about this interstellar phenomenon.
What is the “triple conjunction”?
A triple conjunction occurs when three planets align in the sky and form a kind of celestial conga.
During this year’s triple header, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn will appear within 2 degrees of each other in the constellation of Capricorn, Forbes reported.
NASA wrote that “from Friday evening to Monday evening, the planet Mercury appears to be passing [by] Saturn first, then Jupiter as it slides away from the horizon, visible low in the west-southwest every night, and sets before twilight ends. “
How to see the spectacle
The window to capture this cosmic congregation is short. EarthSky reports that the planetary trio will be visible at dusk, but will set by nightfall, so stargazers should ideally be on an unobstructed horizon within 30 minutes of sunset.
Once at a suitable vantage point, sky viewers are recommended to look low to the west-southwest horizon, NASA said.
While binoculars are recommended, intergalactic gawkers can witness the triple conjunction with the naked eye by first looking for Jupiter – the brightest of the three – then spotting Saturn and Mercury.
When is the next triple conjunction?
After this weekend, the next time these three planets align, just before Valentine’s Day, will be on February 13.
In fact, this particular three-way to space standards is quite common, with the most recent interplanetary rendezvous in 2015. In contrast, last month’s “Christmas Star” marked the first Jupiter-Saturn conjunction since 1226.