Google Doodle celebrates Winter Solstice 2020 and the Great Conjunction; Here's what you need to know
What is Winter Solstice: December 21 marks the Winter solstice in northern hemisphere and is the shortest day and longest night of the year
- Dec 21, 2020,
- Updated Dec 21, 2020 10:38 AM IST
The latest Google Doodle celebrates Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction with an animated graphic on December 21. Winter solstice usually takes place between December 19 and December 23 in the northern hemisphere. Today's animated Doodle "celebrates the Northern Hemisphere's first day of winter as well as this rare double planet sighting- or "Great Conjunction"- which can be viewed from anywhere around the globe!"
December 21 marks the Winter solstice in northern hemisphere and is the shortest day and longest night of the year. The exact opposite happens in the southern hemisphere. The Great Conjunction occurs when Jupiter and Saturn overlap in the night sky. The Jupiter Saturn Great Conjunction is being referred to as the 'Christmas Star of 2020'.
According to NASA, this event will take place after approximately 400 years since the planets were this close to each other in the sky and almost 800 years after Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the night.
In India, the conjunction can be watched between 06:30 pm-07:30 pm. Delhi's Nehru Planetarium has opened registrations for viewing the celestial phenomenon. To avoid crowding, the planetarium has started skywatching from December 20 and this will go on till December 22.
Webcasting will also be done on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the planetarium depending on weather conditions.
Also read: COVID-19 vaccine may turn people into 'crocodile': Brazilian President Bolsonaro
The latest Google Doodle celebrates Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction with an animated graphic on December 21. Winter solstice usually takes place between December 19 and December 23 in the northern hemisphere. Today's animated Doodle "celebrates the Northern Hemisphere's first day of winter as well as this rare double planet sighting- or "Great Conjunction"- which can be viewed from anywhere around the globe!"
December 21 marks the Winter solstice in northern hemisphere and is the shortest day and longest night of the year. The exact opposite happens in the southern hemisphere. The Great Conjunction occurs when Jupiter and Saturn overlap in the night sky. The Jupiter Saturn Great Conjunction is being referred to as the 'Christmas Star of 2020'.
According to NASA, this event will take place after approximately 400 years since the planets were this close to each other in the sky and almost 800 years after Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the night.
In India, the conjunction can be watched between 06:30 pm-07:30 pm. Delhi's Nehru Planetarium has opened registrations for viewing the celestial phenomenon. To avoid crowding, the planetarium has started skywatching from December 20 and this will go on till December 22.
Webcasting will also be done on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the planetarium depending on weather conditions.
Also read: COVID-19 vaccine may turn people into 'crocodile': Brazilian President Bolsonaro