Great Conjunction 2020 LIVE: Will Jupiter and Saturn ‘nearly touch’ AGAIN tonight, how to watch and what does it mean?

HOW CAN WE LOCATE THE PLANETS?

After the sun has set, look in the direction where it went down and there will still be a brighter part of the sky.

That is where the two planets should appear. All the planets go round the sun, so from Earth we tend to see them in the same band around the sky.

Keep looking until you see Jupiter, which is quite bright on its own, and Saturn will be right next to it, but a bit fainter.

HOW CAN I SEE THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM in the UK?

There is a sweet spot about 45 minutes after sunset.

The exact time for the sun setting depends on which part of the nation you are in, but it should be between 3pm and 3.15pm.

You will see the planets as the sky starts to darken.

As the night draws in they will slip further down towards the horizon and by around 6.20pm they will have disappeared from view.

You will still be able to see Jupiter and Saturn close together on the day before and day after, but they will clearly be separate bodies.

HOW THE GREAT CONJUNCTION WILL WORK?

WHAT IS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM?

In a rare astrological event, which has not occurred since the Middle Ages, planets Saturn and Jupiter are set to align, appearing to almost kiss each other in a dazzling display.

Some experts suggest this celestial phenomenon could be the star that kings Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar are said to have followed over 2,000 years ago.

The story is told in the Gospel of Matthew. In his account, the wise men arrive in Jerusalem and say to King Herod: “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”

JUPITER AND SATURN SEEN FROM LAS VEGAS LAST NIGHT

WHAT IS THE MAYAN CALENDAR?

The Mayan calendar is a system of calendars and almanacs which was used by several cultures in Central America.

It dates back to the 5th century BCE and it is still in use in some Mayan communities today.

The Mayan Calendar has three separate corresponding calendars: The Long Count, the Tzolkin (divine calendar), and the Haab (civil calendar).

Each calendar is cyclical, meaning that a certain number of days must occur before a new cycle can begin.

The calendars are also used simultaneously.

The Tzolkin and the Haab identify the days and every 52 years they connect and create a calendar round.

The Long Count date comes first, then the Tzolkin date, and last the Haab date.

The Mayans believed that the universe was destroyed and then recreated at the start of each universal cycle.

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THE WORLD WILL END ON DECEMBER 21?

Wacky Christian evangelist Pastor Paul Begley earlier this year forecast that doomsday would strike on December 21, 2020.

He cited the Mayan calendar and the alignment of two planets on that date – which happens to be his birthday – as evidence for his baseless claims.

According to Pastor Begley, the Mayan calendar has been resurrected once again and points to this date as one of apocalyptic significance.

After claims the world would end on December 21 2012 – when the Mayan calendar ran out – came to nothing, conspiracy nuts now say the date was miscalculated.

Instead, the Mayans apparently believed our world would be snuffed out eight years later, on December 21, 2020.

Coincidentally, the date is also the beginning of the winter solstice, rounding off a triple whammy of supposedly prophetic events.

WHAT DOES THE GREAT CONJUNCTION MEAN?

As if 2020 hadn't been bad enough, some conspiracy theorists think the Saturn and Jupiter meet up could spell the end of the world.

This is due to some interpretations of the Mayan calendar.

According to the Daily Express, doomsday predictor Pastor Paul Begley said: "It will be the closest Jupiter and Saturn have been since 1623 and it won't even come that close again for another 500 years.

"So this is so rare and it's going to be on the winter solstice. It's going to be on December 21, 2020.

"The Mayans are now reorganising and saying this could certainly be the end of the world as we know it."

Of course, there is no hard evidence to suggest this is correct.

According to Astrology.com, some astrologists believe Jupiter and Saturn coming close together leads to old forms dying and new growth beginning.

What we know for sure is that some stargazers across the planet will be in for an interesting visual treat next week.

SATURN'S RINGS - WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DID THEY FORM?

• The rings of Saturn are mostly made of water ice particles, as well as some rock debris and dust
• It's the most extensive ring system of any planet in our Solar System
• The dense main rings extend from 4,300 miles away to 50,000 miles away from Saturn's equator
• They have an estimated local thickness that ranges from 10 metres to 1 kilometre
• The rings are caught in a balancing act around the planet
• Gravity is drawing them inwards, but the speed of their orbit wants to fling them out to space
• But latest research suggests gravity is winning, with Saturn's rings expected to disappear within 100million and 300million years
• Scientists are divided on exactly how the rings of Saturn formed
• One theory is that small, icy moons orbiting Saturn collided, smashing up into bits and creating rings
• It's also possible these icy moons were struck by large comets or asteroids, or were broken apart by gravity
• The second popular theory is that the rings were never part of a moon, but leftover material from the formation of Saturn

WHAT TIME WILL THE PLANETS ALIGN TONIGHT?

The alignment of Jupiter and Saturn will occur on Monday December 21, 2020.

It will be visible from anywhere on Earth - though conditions will be best near the equator.

As Jupiter’s and Saturn’s 12- and 29-year orbits bring them together they will appear low in the western sky.

About 45 minutes after sunset observers should look 10º above the south-southwest horizon to see Jupiter and Saturn shining almost as one.

Sunset will take place at 15:53 in London, 16:06 in Cardiff, 15:59 in Belfast and 15:39 in Edinburgh.

DOUBLE PLANET EVENT

HOW CAN I SEE IT?

If we're lucky enough not to have cloudy skies on December 21, the celestial event should be visible all over the world.

You'll need to look low down in the western sky an hour after sunset and below the Capricornus constellation.

A night sky scanning app could be used to point you to the right constellation.

Remember that stargazing is best done in an open and dark place with limited light pollution.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ON DECEMBER 21?

In the Southern Hemisphere, December 21 is often the longest day of the year and occurs during the southern summer.

December 21 also means it is 10 days remaining until the end of the year.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENS ON DECEMBER 21 IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE?

In the Northern Hemisphere December 21 usually marks the shortest day of the year.

Because of this it is sometimes regarded as the first day of winter - or the Winter Solstice.

IF I MISS THE CONJUNCTION TONIGHT, WHEN CAN I SEE IT AGAIN?

The Great conjunction occurs every twenty years or so and is when both Jupiter and Saturn align at the same degree of the zodiac.

Next week's Great Conjunction will not be matched until March 15, 2080, so this might just be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

LINKS TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Some people have argued that the Great Conjunction could have been the Biblical Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus.

However, not all Bible experts have accepted this theory.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Last night the two planets looked close together, joining to create a bright light amongst the stars.

Below, the two planets were spotted from High Wycombe last night.

WHAT DO ASTROLOGERS SAY ABOUT THE CONJUNCTION?

Jupiter and Saturn's alignment, according to astrologers, represents a changing of an era, and a time where we shift our way of viewing the world.

WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT TONIGHT'S GREAT CONJUNCTION?

Tonight Saturn and Jupiter will appear just 0.1 degrees apart.

This is the closest the two planets have been since the conjunction of 1623.

WHAT IS THE GREAT CONJUNCTION/CHRISTMAS STAR?

The "Christmas star" is when two astronomical bodies meet in a celestial dome called the Great Conjunction.

What else happens on December 21?

In the Northern Hemisphere December 21 usually marks the shortest day of the year.

Because of this it is sometimes regarded as the first day of winter - or the Winter Solstice.

In the Southern Hemisphere, December 21 is often the longest day of the year and occurs during the southern summer.

December 21 also means it is 10 days remaining until the end of the year.

How rare is the Great Conjunction?

The Great conjunction occurs every twenty years or so and is when both Jupiter and Saturn align at the same degree of the zodiac.

Next week's Great Conjunction will not be matched until March 15, 2080, so this might just be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

A Great Conjunction similar to the one we will see on Monday has not been seen for 800 years.

On December 21, the Christmas Star will dip below the horizon by 6.30 pm GMT.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

The planets will move so close that their brightness will merge to appear as one bright light.

Their alignment, according to astrologers, represents a changing of an era, and a time where we shift our way of viewing the world.

Some people have argued that the Great Conjunction could have been the Biblical Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus.

However, not all Bible experts have accepted this theory.

WHAT TIME IS THE GREAT CONJUNCTION?

The "Christmas star" is when two astronomical bodies meet in a celestial dome called the Great Conjunction.

On December 21, Saturn and Jupiter will appear just 0.1 degrees apart, the closest conjunction since 1623.

The exact time you can see the Christmas star depends on where you are in the country but it should be visible around 4pm.