Of all the astronomical events to take place throughout the year, this may be one of the most exciting ones yet.
Jupiter and Saturn will pass closer together in the night sky than they have in nearly 400 years, say NASA.
The stunning celestial alignment will take place just after sunset on Monday (21 December) as the solar system’s two largest planets appear side by side.
The conjunction, also referred to as the Christmas Star, will peak at 6.37pm UK time and is expected to be visible for two days either side of this - though, visibility will be impacted by the weather conditions.
While the planets' positions align in the sky about once every 20 years, this event is rare.
This is because it will be the closest conjunction since 1623, and nearly 800 years since the alignment occurred at night, as it will for 2020.
It will allow nearly everyone around the world to witness this "great conjunction", say NASA, and will be 2080 before the planets align so closely again.
What's more, the conjunction will take place on the same day as the winter solstice, which experts say gives people a great chance to gaze the spectacle.
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“Conjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year, depending on where the planets are in their orbits,” said Henry Throop, astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
He continued: “The date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth in their paths around the Sun, while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of Earth’s axis.
"The solstice is the longest night of the year, so this rare coincidence will give people a great chance to go outside and see the solar system.”
