Clouds block your view of 'Christmas Star'? How to spot it AGAIN in Northern Ireland this week

Cloudy skies ruined the view for many 🪐 🌟🌙

NASA Stock Image
Author: Paulo RossPublished 22nd Dec 2020
Last updated 22nd Dec 2020

Stargazers in Northern Ireland who were unable to spot the once-in-a-lifetime 'Christmas Star' due to cloudy skies will still have a chance to see the exciting event this week.

Last night marked the night of the "Great Conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn appearing at its closest – a tenth of a degree apart - but the planets will remain almost the same distance apart on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With cloudy skies forecast later, our best chance of seeing it again will be Wednesday or Thursday evening - look towards the waxing crescent moon in the western sky 45 minutes after sunset.

You will need to be quick though as both planets will set shortly after sunset.

The last time it was observable with the naked eye was back in 1226.

Some people believe this event was responsible for the star of Bethlehem followed by the Three Wise Men in the Bible story, hence its nickname.