Saudi skywatchers set for a rare planetary encounter

RIYADH: Astronomers in Saudi Arabia are in for a special celestial show this week as an event is set to feature in the night sky.

Jupiter and Mars will appear close together in the sky on Thursday as the two planets converge in a rare pre-dawn alignment, according to the Jeddah Astronomy Society.

Enthusiasts worldwide are gearing up for the event, and Saudi skywatchers will be joining them to try and see this rare astronomical event.

Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, said: “This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity.

“Observers will be able to see Jupiter’s brilliant white light paired with Mars’ distinctive reddish glow. It will look as if they are almost touching.”

Abu Zahra added that the two planets will be separated by just 0.3 degrees, a feat not to be repeated until December 2033.

While this proximity may appear astonishing, it is purely an optical illusion: Mars and Jupiter remain millions of miles apart.

Owners of telescopes are in for an even greater treat as Jupiter’s four largest moons will also be visible alongside the two planets, said the Jeddah Astronomy Society.

“This is a dream come true for astrophotographers,” said Abu Zahra.

“Capturing both planets and their moons in a single frame will create stunning images.”

Waleed Jameel, an astronomer working in Riyadh, is excited at the prospect of the event, and told Arab News: “I am eagerly awaiting to see this rare celestial experience with my friends as two planets in our Solar System are expected to have a rare planetary encounter. It’s a special opportunity to see it.”

NASA’s official website has highlighted the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn as its most recent significant event, in 2020. The planets were less than 0.1 degrees apart at that time.