Google Doodle celebrates Winter Solstice 2020 & the Great Conjunction

Taking place on Monday, December 21st, Winter Solstice 2020 is so special. It not only marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere but also sees the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. 

Google is well-known for its colorful doodles celebrating or commemorating various important occasions. This time, to celebrate the Great Conjunction of the two largest planets of the solar system and Winter Solstice 2020, the search engine giant Google has created a fascinating Doodle that shows Saturn giving Jupiter a quick high five as it slides on by in this planet’s solar system orbit, whereas the literally “snow-capped” Earth is watching these two planets. 

Winter Solstice 2020

Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. It’s also the day marking the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, Winter Solstice takes place on Monday, December 21st. 

After Winter Solstice, nights start becoming shorter and days longer in, of course, the Northern Hemisphere. 

The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Winter Solstice 2020 seems a lot more distinctive and fascinating as it also sees an amazing astronomical event - the reunion of Jupiter and Saturn in December for the first time since 1226. That means the last time when such a December conjunction occurred was nearly 800 ago.

To be honest, Saturn and Jupiter align every 19.6 years. What makes this Great Conjunction so unique are the facts that they will be lining up in December for the first time in 800 years, and it is the closest these two planets have been since 1623.

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Sources:

cnet.com/news/google-doodle-illustrates-great-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-saturn/