Rome, Italy, Dec 10, 2020 / 13:00 pm
The "Great Conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn taking place this month -- dubbed the "Christmas Star" -- is a pretty sight, but it is impossible to know for sure if it has any connection to the Star of Bethlehem, a Vatican astronomer said.
On Dec. 21, the planets Jupiter and Saturn will appear a tenth of a degree apart in the night sky, something called a "Great Conjunction."
This conjunction happens approximately every 20 years, but this year the two planets will appear the closest they have been in almost 400 years. To the naked eye, they will look like one, bright star, thus earning the nickname the "Christmas Star."
Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., told CNA that the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter doesn't have a religious significance, but "nonetheless, it is a pretty sight that everyone should have a look at."