“Jupiter and Saturn in Conjunction” –|– Anthony Satori

“The ninety and nine are with dreams content.
But the hope of the world made new
Is the hundredth person who is grimly bent
On making dreams come true.”

— Ted Olson

I took this photograph just a few weeks ago, on December 21, 2020. At first blush, it may not be evident why this image might be of particular note. The two lights in the sky, however, are the planets Jupiter and Saturn, and they are in “conjunction” — which means that on this particular night these two celestial bodies were visibly closer together in our sky than they have been in nearly 800 years. The last time they appeared this close (0.1 degree apart) was 1226 AD. Merely to be alive to witness the recurrence of such a phenomenon is quite amazing. To top it off, however, this incredibly rare event occurred on Winter Solstice (for the Northern Hemisphere), which feels doubly auspicious.

Winter Solstice is the longest, darkest, and often coldest night of the year. In this moment, we are the farthest from the Sun than at any other time. It also means, however, that a shift is occurring. Things are now beginning to turn around, and to move back toward the renewal of life, toward the expansion of light and warmth, and toward the rejuvenation that comes with springtime.

Keep faith, everyone. The planets have aligned.

(See below for a more close-up photograph of the conjunction!)

“Jupiter and Saturn in Conjunction (with moons visible)” | 2020-12-21 18:40 (PST) | Anthony Satori