It's been hundreds of years since two planets have aligned on the night of the winter solstice, and you can see this rare celestial event from your backyard.

You'll need to head outside and look southwest just after sunset. Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. tonight, you can see the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn with the unaided eye. You'll obviously be able to get a better view of what's being billed as "The Great Conjunction" with a telescope or binoculars; however, tonight's forecast calls for a clear sky which will make it possible to see this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Just how rare is "The Great Conjunction?"

"It’s been nearly 400 years since the planets passed this close to each other in the sky,
and nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night, as it will for 2020, allowing nearly everyone around the world to witness [it]," ABC 33/40 and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist James Spann said.

GREAT CONJUNCTION: Tonight we have the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn. What makes this year’s event so rare?...

Posted by James Spann on Monday, December 21, 2020

The planetary alignment should be at its peak tomorrow (Tuesday) night and will still be visible on Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

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