Curiosity to learn and try new things is the new normal for students at Ilboru Primary School in the Arusha region of Northern Tanzania. Taking theory into action, they came together trying to build SolarScope and Telescope based on locally available materials.
Inspired by the Eyes in the Sky astronomy podcast, they tried to build a device to enable them to safely observe the Sun as they do for the Moon at night and daytime.
They were curious about the possibility to safely observe stars without damaging their eyes. But also wanted to know what they will observe if they are able to have a closer look at the Sun.
Knowing that lenses are made out of glass, other students tried to create their own telescope using layers of glasses. They were curious about how they could turn normal glasses into concave and convex lenses for a hand-made Telescope.
Just like what Galileo did, they wanted to use their handmade telescope to explore the universe, planets, stars, moon, and other objects not visible to the eyes.
Thonny Daniel and Shedrack Eliakimu are looking forward to designing an instrument that will help students to have a better understanding of their universe as it has been done by those who discovered Telescopes and other devices.
Schools nearby Mt. Meru Astronomical Observation are also benefiting from astronomy equipment. Students at Nshupu secondary schools had a first light pleasure to have a closer look at the Moon’s surface using a borrowed telescope from the MMAO.
Inspired by the students’ visit to MMAO and observation of the Moon’s surface, Mr. Mkwinda’s son asked his father to take him to the observatory for more exploration.
Mwezi ni kitu tulichokizoea kukiona mara kwa mara nyakati za asubuhi, jioni na usiku. Lakini katika mila na tamaduni zetu za kiafrika na hata nje ya Afrika, kuna nadhalia nyingi na hadithi kuhusu Mwezi.
Kupitia kipindi cha macho angani, wanafunzi wameweza kujifunza na kudadishi mambo mengi kuhusu Mwezi kwa kuzingatia sayansi. Hapa chini ni baadhi ya maswali waliyokuwa nayo wanafunzi, mara baada ya kufahamu zaidi kuhusu Mwezi na umuhimu wake kwetu.
Emilian Joseph aliuliza:Kwanini kila baada ya siku 29 au 30 tunaweza kuona mwezi mpevu na sio siku pungufu zaidi?
Jibu:Mwezi unazunguka Dunia kwa kasi isiyobadilika. Wakati wa kuzunguka Dunia, tunaona uso wake jinsi unavyoangazwa na Jua. Kila wakati nusu ya Mwezi unaangazwa na Jua. Lakini nusu ile yote iliyoangazwa tunaona tu kwenye siku ya Mwezi mpevu. Ilhali mwezi unaendelea kuzunguka, tunaona baadaye tu sehemu ndogo zaidi iliyoangazwa, halafu nusu tu, halafu sehemu ndogo zaidi, halafu hilali tu na baadaye sehemu ya Mwezi tunayoona haina mwangaza kabisa. Baadaye sehemu iliyoangzwa iananza kuoenekana kidogo tena, kama hilali, na kadhalika. Badiliko hili lote limekamilika baada ya siku 29, saa 12, dakika 44 na sekunda pili. Tunaweza kusema muda wa kurudi kwa mwonekano wa Mwezi mpevu ni takribani siku 29 na nusu.
Unaweza kufanya jaribio usiku. Weka chungwa mezani pamoja na tochi. Lenga tochi kwenye chungwa. Zima taa kwenye chumba. Unaona nusu ya chungwa inaangazwa. Sasa zunguka meza na angalia jinsi unavyoona sehemu iliyoangazwa.
Unaonaje sehemu iliyoangazwa? Inafanana na awamu za Mwezi. Ila kiukweli si sisi kwenye Dunia tunaozunguka Mwezi bali Mwezi unatozunguka sisi. Ila matokeo ya muonekano wa upande iliyangazwa ni yaleyale.
Mariam aliuliza: Mwezi kama satelite ya asili umeundwa na nini?, na je safari kutoka duniani mpaka kwenye mwezi huchukua siku ngapi?
Jibu:Mwezi unaundwa na miamba. Sawa na Dunia ni mpira mkubwa wa miamba ila tu hakuna hewa hakuna bahari. Ukubwa wa Mwezi ni robo moja ya ukubwa wa Dunia. Safari ya kufika mwezini kutoka Dunia inadumu siku 3 hadi 4.
Belinda Adam aliuliza:Kwanini mwezi haitoi mwanga wake wenyewe ila unakisi mwanga kutoka kwenye jua je! Ina maana mwezi una madini gani yanayoweza kuakisi mwanga?
Jibu:Mwezi ni sawa na sayari: hazitoi Mwanga bali zinaakisi mwanga wa Jua. Ni nyota pekee ambazo zina joto kubwa kiasi cha kutoa mwanga, na Jua letu ni nyota iliyo karibu nasi.
Kuhusu kuakisi: Karibu kila kitu kinaakisi mwanga. Ukitazama mkono wako, unauona kwa sababu unaakisi mwanga.
Swali: Kwanini katika bara la Afrika linakuwa na jua la kutosha kuliko mabara mengine na pia inavyoonekana mwezi pia huangaza na kuonekana vizuri kuliko mabara mengine nini siri yake hapo inayotutofautisha na mabara hayo?
Jibu:Siyo bara la Afrika pekee linalopokea joto nyingi kutoka kwenye Jua. Maeneo ya joto kubwa yako pia katika bara la Amerika Kusini na Asia. Kuna kanda la Dunia linaloitwa Tropiki ambalo linapokea joto la Jua,. Ukanda huu unapatikana upande wa kusini na kazkazini mwa Ikweta. Tanzania ni sehemu ya kanda la tropiki. Hata ndani ya Afrika, ukifika mbali na ikweta joto linapungua, Mfano Afrika Kusini au Aljeria. Ambapo kuna miezi ya joto na pia miezi ya baridi.
Kuhusu mwonekano wa Mwezi hakuna tofauti kati ya mabara. Kote duniani, Mwezi unaonekana mkubwa ukiwa karibu na upeo wa macho. Kadri inavyofika juu angani, unaonekana mdogo.
Ester Ashaeli aliuliza:Kwanini mwezi una madoa doa au huonekana kuwa na makovu mengi au mabonde nini chanzo chake?
Jibu:Tunayoona kama madoa ni maeneo makubwa ambako mwamba ni mweusinweusi. Ni maeneo ambako miaka milioni nyingi iliyopita volkeno zilimwaga miamba iliyoyeyuka na kuonyesha rangi nyeusi baada ya kuganda.
Yale unayotaja kama makovu ni kasoko zilizobaki baada ya migongano ya miamba kutoka anga-nje. Kasoko ni shimo linalotokea kama kitu kikubwa kinagonga uso wa sayari au Mwezi. Shimo la kasoko linaviringishwa na duara ya miinuko, kama pete ya milima. Kasoko za aina hii ziko pia duniani lakini hapa zinaweza kupotea na kutoonekana baada ya muda mrefu kwa sababu mvua na upepo vinaleta mmomonyoko wa miinuko na kujaza shimo la katikati. Mwezini hakuna hewa wala mvua hivyo kasoko zinaonekana hata baada ya miaka bilioni.
Anitha Yohana aliuliza: Kwa nini mwezi unatoa nuru hafifu kwani kuna tofauti gani ya kimuundo ilitengeneza Jua na Mwezi?
Jibu:Mwezi unaonekana ukitoa nuru hafifi kwa sababu Mwezi hauna nuru; unaakisi tu nuru ya Jua.
Tutumia mfano wa taa wakati wa usiku. Ukiangalia globu au balbu inayowaka, inang’aa na kutoa mwanga mwingi; unaona pia meza, kiti, ukuta lakini hazing’ai sana maana zinaakisi mwanga wa balbu tu.
Kimuundo Mwezi wote ni mwamba. Lakini Jua ni mpira mkubwa sana ya gesi ya joto. Joto ni kubwa sana, kwenye uso wa Jua ni nyuzi elfu sita hivyo linatoa nuru.
Anderes Dismas aliuliza:Je kwanini hatuwezi kuona pande zote za mwezi kama upande wa nyuma ya mwezi je? Pande zote ziko sawa kimuundo au zina tofautitofauti?
Jibu: Tunaona upande moja wa Mwezi tu kwa sababu mzunguko wa Mwezi kwenye mhimili wake unatokea sambamba na obiti yake ya kuzunguka Dunia. Yaani katika kipindi cha kuzunguka Dunia mara moja, ambazo ni siku 29 na nusu, Mwezi unajizungusha mara moja kwenye mhimili wake. Hivyo ni upandeuleule unaaoendelea kutazama Dunia.
Kwa jumla hakuna tofauti kubwa kati y a pande hizo mbili; isipokuwa picha zinaonyesha kwamba maeneo ya miamaba meusi ni ndogo zaidi. Sababu yake haieleweki bado.
Glory Melau aliuliza:Mwezi na jua vina lingana? na je jua mwezi hupimwa kwa vifaa gani ili kupata umbali (urefu au upana)?
Jibu:Vipimo vya kimsingi vya umbali, urefu na upana vimepatikana tangu muda mrefu. Umbali wa Mwezi umeshapatikana tangu miaka 2200. Wakati ule mtaalamu katika Ugiriki ya Kale aliiytwa Hipparko. Aligundua umbali wa mwezi kwa kutumia mbinu unaoitwa paralaksi. Unaweza kufanya jaribio. Nyosha mkono mbele ya uso wako na inua kidole gumba. Sasa funga jicho moja halafu jicho lingine. Utaona jinsi kidole gumba linaonekana kusogea kushoto na kulia mbele ya mandharinyuma. Tofauti hiyo inaoitwa paralaksi.
Paralaksi ya Mwezi inaonekana ukitazama Mwezi kutoka miji miwili duniani. Utaona kwamba nyota zilizo karibu sana na Mwezi zinaonekana tofauti kila mahali, kwa sababu ya paralaksi. Sasa unawaza pembetatu, nukta zake ni miji miwili duniani, nukta ya tatu ni Mwezi.
Ukijua hisabati ya pembetatu, unahitaji urefu wa upande mmoja na viwango vya pembe ndani ya pembetatu. Ukijua hiyo, unaweza kukadiria urefu wa pande nyingine.
Sasa unatumia hisabati hiyo ya pembetatu; Nukta A na B ziko Duniani, nukta C ni Mwezi. Unajua umbali kati ya miji miwili A na B. Unaweza kupima pembe kati ya nyota ambazo ni karibu sana na Mwezi, na pembe hiyo ni pembe gamma ya pembetatu yako. Unajua jumla ya pembe ndani ya pembetatu ni nyuzi 180, hivyo unajua pia pembe za alfa na beta. Sasa unaweza kukadiria umbali wa pande mbili nyingine na hivyo unapata umbali hadi C ambayo ni Mwezi.
Siku hizi kuna vifaa vinavyopima umbali kwa kutumia mionzi ya rada au mwanga.
Hatima Athari aliuliza: Mwezi imewahi kufanyiwa kufikiwa mara ngapi kwa ajili ya kufanyiwa utafiti na je ni mataifa au taifa gani linaongoza katika utafiti huo?
Jibu:Utafiti wa Mwezi ulianza na vipimaanga kutoka Urusi mnamo 1959. Kipimaanga ni chombo kinachorushwa kwenye anga-nje kinachobeba kamera, vifaa vya kutekeleza vipimo mbalimbali na redio ya mawasiliano. Marekani ilifuata. Vipimaanga vilizunguka Mwezi na baada ya miaka kadhaa Warusi na Wamarekani walifaulu kufikisha vyombo kwenye uso wa Mwezi. Marekani pekee ilifaulu kupeleka watu hadi uso wa Mwezi, kwa jumla wanaanga 12 waliofika kwa safari sita. Tangu 1972 hakuna binadamu aliyetumwa tena Mwezini na utafiti uliofuata ulitekelezwa na mashine tu. Tangu miaka 25 kuna pia mataifa mengine yaliyotuma vipimaanga na hata magari ya utafiti hadi mwezini, hizo ni Japani, Umoja wa Ulaya, Uhindi na China.
Shauku kubwa ya kutaka kujua iliwajaa wanafunzi wa shule ya Msining Ilboru mara baada ya kusikiliza kipindi cha macho angani kinachohusu wanaanga na safari zao za angani.
Kwa kushirikianana mwalimu wao Eliatosha Maleko, wanafunzi waliweza kujifunza kuhusu safari za anga na wanaanga waendao safari za mbali.
Kabla ya kipindi mwalimu alipakua na kuwaonyesha picha za wana anga mbali mbali akiwamo Yuri Gagarin na Neil Armstrong pamoja na vifaa walivyovitumia miaka hiyo ya 1961 na 1969.
Wanafunzi hawa pia waliweza kuona video ya kituo cha kimataifa kinachoelea angani kiitwacho ISS (International Space Station).
Wanafunzi walipata fursa ya kuuliza maswali yaliyopo hapa chini kuhusu kituo hicho na wanaanga. Sikiliza majibu ya baadhi ya maswali hayo kwa kubofya hapa na kisha hapaau hapo chini kabla ya maswali kusikiliza.
Unaweza kujifunza pamoja nasi kwa kusikiliza kipindi hiko hapa na kujaribu kujibu maswali ya wanafunzi wewe mwenyewe.
Swali liliulizwa na Clara Elirehema
-Kwanini Yuri Gagarin alifanikiwa kuizunguka dunia kwa muda mfupi ikilinganishwa na Wanasayansi wengine kwani chombo chake kilichokuwa ni bora kuliko hivi vinavyotengeneza nyakati hizi za karne ya 21?
Elen Emanuel aliuliza
-Kwanini ni lazima kuwa na afya njema ili uweze kwenda/ kusafiri katika kituo cha anga cha kimataifa cha ISS ?.
-Kwanini Yurigagar alisema kwamba alikua akikaa tu katika chumba chake bila kufanya chochote ina maana gani?
-Inawezekanaje kituo hicho cha ISS kujengwa angani vifaa hivyo vilifika je huko?.
Yugen Elias aliuliza
-Kama angani hamna hewa wanaanga wanavutaje hewa wanapofika katika kituo hicho cha Anga cha kimataifa na je huwa wanabeba gesi kwa ajili ya kupumulia na je huwa inapoisha wanapata wapi nyingine kwa haraka?
Irene aliuliza
-Wanaanga wanapofanya mazoezi mbalimbali kama ya kukimbia huelea angani au inakuwaje?.
-Kwani ni nilazima kuwa na degree ya Sayansi ili uweze kwenda katika chombo cha anga cha kimataifa na sio degree za masomo mengine kama arts na Economic?
Iddy Twahiru aliuliza
-Kwanini Yurigagar alikaa kwenye chombo kidogo kuliko gari na je vyombo vinavyotumika nyakati hizi huwa na ukubwa gani?
Jesca aliuliza
-Kwani vyombo vinavyotumika kwenda katika anga za mbali javigonga ni angani kwani twajua huko angani kuna vitu vingi kama vile mabomba yanakwenda kwa kasi kubwa na vitu vingine?
Neema Florence aliuliza
-Kwanini wana anga wanaweza kuishi na kufanya shughuli mbalimbali huko angani wakati hakuna graviti kama jinsi wanavyoonekana katika video ya wanasayansi katika kituo cha anga cha kimataifa wanavyofanya kazi zao?
-kwanini muda unatumika kufikia katika kituo cha anga cha kimataifa (ISS) ni mafupi kuliko ilivyokuwa zamani au sasa?
Happyness Edward aliuliza
-Kwanini Yurigagar katika mwaka 1961aliruka juu kwa muda mfupi kwa dakika 180 ambao ni mfupi kuliko muda unaotumika hivi sasa au vyombo vyake na vya karne hizi vinatofautianaje?
Vanessa Gasto aliuliza
-Je hizo Suti zinazotumika katika vyombo vinavyotumika amani , anatofautiana na suti za kawaida tuzijuazo?
-Hao wana anga wanaweza kutoka nje ya vyombo vyao na je wakitoka wanaweza kukabiliana na mazingira ya huko angani na je huweza kurudi tena ndani katika vyombo vyao?
Daniel Willfred aliuliza
-kwanini nje ya dunia kilometa 400 kutoka duniani hakuna hewa ya Oksijeni?.
Neema Florence aliuliza
-Kwanini wanaanga wanaweza kuishi na kufanya vitu mbalimbali wakati kunasemekana hakuna graviti kama ilivyokuwa hapa Duniani?
Kipindi cha macho angani kuhusu satelaiti kimeiubua maswali mengi toka kwa wanafunzi mengi kuhusu satelaiti na umuhimu wake kwa maisha ya leo.
Maswali hayo yamepatiwa majibu, nasi tumeona ni vyema kushiriki nanyi ili tujifunze pamoja.
Wanafunzi wa shule ya Msingi Ilboru wakiongozwa na mwalimu wao Eliatosha Maleko, wamekuwa wakijifunza kuhusu elimu ya anga au astronomia kupitia vipindi vya redio vijulikanavyo kama macho angani.
Vipindi hivi vinapatikana kupitia mtandao kwa kubofya hapa na kisha kuchagua mada ambayo ungependa kujifunza zaidi.
Kipindi cha tarehe 20 Mwezi wa saba, wanafunzi walipendelea kujifunza kuhusu satelaiti na umuhimu wake. Maswali mengi yaliulizwa na wanafunzi kuhusu satelaiti kama yalivyo nakiliwa hapa chini.
Tupe maoni yako juu ya mada hii na pia kama wanafunzi katika shule yako wanaweza kuwa na maswali tofauti au zaidi kuhusu satelite.
Unaweza pia kushiriki nasi majibu ya maswali haya kwa kuandika kwenye sehemu ya maoni au comment.
Walter Bernard -Satelite imeundwaje? -Kwanini satelite inapoanguka hupata msuguano mkubwa?
Emma Loy -Kwanini satelite ni kubwa kama Lory? – Kwanini mwezi ni satelite ya asili? – Kwanini satelite hufungwa katika roketi?
Nestor Alex -Obit Nini? -Kwanini satelite ina mwendo wa haraka ikiwa Angani?
Ester Jonathan -Gps ni nini? -Satelite ni nini?
Diana Charles -Satelite ikianguka katika makazi ya watu nini kitatokea?
Ester Mahubiri -Kwanini usafiri wa ndege unategemea sana mawasiliano ya satelite?
Abigael Abrahamu -Katika Satelite je! Kuna Binadamu wanaoishi humo?
Nengarivo -Kwanini satelite huwaka kwa kutoa mwanga inaokimbia?
Merry Alex -Wakati wa kuanguka kwa satelite hutokea nini?
Paschal David -Satelite inatengenezwa je? -Zipo aina ngapi za satelite? satelite ya kwanza kurushwa angani ni ipi na ilikuwa ina madhumuni gani?
Editha Francis -Kwanini Satelite huwekwa Angani? – Kwanini Satelite huwekwa Angani na sio ardhini? -Satelite zina umuhimu gani kwa maisha yetu ya kila siku?
Deborah Adam -Kwanini usiku kuna kua na nyota nyingi angani kuliko mchana? -Kwanini bila Gps mambo mengi katika dunia yetu ya kisasa hayaendi? – Kwanini satelite ikiwa angani ni ndogo kama nyota? -Kwanini vifaa vya usafiri wa anga kama vile ndege huratibiwa na satelite? -Satelite zina umuhimu gani kwa maisha yetu na viumbe wengine duniani? -Je kwanini satelite nyingi huzunguka Sayari yetu ya tatu ya dunia?
Eliatosha -Elimu ya Astronomia ina faida gani kwetu? -Kwanini satelite huzunguka dunia kupitia obit na sio njia nyingine? -Nguvu za jua zina geuzwa VIP kubwa Umeme?
Belinda Abihudi -Kwanini satelite nyingi hutumia obit? -Kwani satelite huzunguka dunia kwa kilometa ngapi? -Kwanini vyombo vya habari haviwezi kufanya kazi bila satelite?
Norine Nelson -Kwanini satelite nyingi haziwezi kukaa sehemu moja? -Kwanini satelite kukimbia kwa kasi kubwa sana?
Leillah Abdillah -Kwanini binadamu wanategemea days za Satelite? – Kwanini satelite zinazorushwa karibu angani huanguka mapema zaidi? -Ikiwa Satelite zitashindwa kufanya kazi je nini kitatokea duniani?
Anna Joseph -Satelite huanguka kwa sababu gani na wapi? -Kuna aina ngapi za Satelite? -Rocket zinazorushwa angani hukaa huko kwa a muda gani? -Satelite huongozwa na nani? -Kwanini satelite ziko maelfu angani na sio moja?
Andreas Dismas -Kwanini satelite kwenye Obit ya karibu haziwezi kuendelea na huanguka dunia? -Kama satelite za kutengenezwa na binadamu iliharibika je! satelite ya asili si itaendelea kutuma taarifa/days na kuzalisha umeme?
Nickson Jonas -Je satelite hutumia vifaa gani na vingapi?
Brayan Leonard -Amesema kuna hewa inayorekebisha mwelekeo wa satelite ni hewa gani hiyo? -kwanini satelite zinatofautiana majina na je? Kazi zake ni moja? -Rocket ina kazi gani angani? -Satelite ziko ngapi na je?kazi zake hutofautiana? -je satelite zinapoanguka hazidhuru watu au huwekwa sehemu maalumu la kuanguka? -Je? Satelite haidhuriki na mwanga wa jua angani?
William Roman -kwanini rocket huruka mpaka anga la nje? -Kwanini satelite hukaa angani bila kuanguka? -kwanini satelite hazikai katika makazi ya binadamu? -kwanini satelite haziwezi kuonekana mchana kama zinavyooneka usiku?
Students from Ilboru Primary schools and their teacher Eliatosha are on an astronomy learning journey using Swahili astronomy podcasts dubbed Macho Angani that means Eyes in Sky.
On this day they learned about Satellites, what they are, the purpose they serve, and their benefits to human kinds.
The journey took them beyond what would be covered in class curricula, raised the interest to understand beyond what is prescribed to their level in the curricular, and triggered endless curios questions.
An extra mile had to be taken by their teacher to search for satellite photos of different types orbiting our home planet and others. Their teacher had to use his small laptop screen to show pictures of satellites to over 140 students in his class.
It was not easy but worth it, students were happy to understand about satellites and what they do.
In supporting this learning journey by students and their teacher at Ilboru, we look forward to supporting them with a Bluetooth rechargeable speaker and a projector.
In each session, the class is getting bigger and bigger. More and more students are interested to join and the number of curious questions is also increasing. These are some of the challenges faced by our tireless Astro-ambassador Mr. Eliatosha Maleko.
We are looking forward to continuing working with him on this transformation learning journey.
Wanafunzi na Wanachama wa klabu ya Sayansi katika shule ya msingi Ilboru, wamejifunza kuhusu sayari ya Zuhura au Venus kwa kusikiliza mfululizo wa makala za kipindi cha redio cha Macho Angani.
Mwalimu wao Eliatosha Maleko ameshiriki nasi maswali ya wanafunzi hao baada ya kusikiliza kipindi hicho hapo chini.
Unaweza kusikiliza, kujifunza na kusaidia kujibu maswali ya wanafunzi hao kwa kusikiliza kipindi hicho kwa kubofya HAPA.
Karibu ujifunze pamoja nasi kwa kusikilia vipindi vingine vingi vya macho angani kwa kubofya HAPA.
It is my sincere hope that all of you are doing very fine. I am happy to inform you that we have managed to meet with ambassadors today. We have discussed many things including the following.
1. All teachers who attended the meeting have agreed to become Ambassadors for MMAO.
2. All Ambassadors have agreed to bring their students to the observatory on a regular basis.
3. Ambassadors will prepare Astronomical subjects according to their interest. For example a study of the solar system, use of the telescope, astronomical measurements, propagation of light, etc.
Ambassador to MMAO Elineema Nassari writes, “Yesterday was so good day at [the MMAO] observatory, we received a group of students and their teachers from Nshupu secondary school. Students and teachers learned many things about Astronomy, how to use telescope, types of telescopes, the solar system, the moon, meaning of galaxy and Milky way galaxy and how to measure distance in space (how to calculate light years). This lesson was lead by ambassador Hamuli Majeshi and myself. One among teachers asked what is the difference between constellation and galaxy. We provided answers and show them galaxies in the Cosmos series and also use Stellarium program to show them how constellation formed. They were so happy to know the differences. We were able to answer many questions from students also.”
“Teachers promised that they will arrange trips to visit the observatory and then more students will visit the observatory in future. We are sure that the observatory is in the road to provide Astronomical education to the students and the community as well.”
After a long, difficult year, the Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory is once again open for business and inviting schools to attend.
Pendaeli Nassary writes, “We received 41 students and two teachers from the Akeri Secondary School.”
Ambassador Mbise writes, “I was very happy to visit the observatory for the first time with my friend Elineema Nassari. I wish not many days to visit there [again] with students from our school, [such] that they can see the good things that were done at the observatory.”
“Skywatchers are in for an end-of-year treat. What has become known popularly as the “Christmas Star” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21.”
“In 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope to the night sky, discovering the four moons of Jupiter – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto … Thirteen years later, in 1623, the solar system’s two giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn, traveled together across the sky. Jupiter caught up to and passed Saturn, in an astronomical event known as a ‘Great Conjunction.'”
“From our vantage point on Earth the huge gas giants will appear very close together, but they will remain hundreds of millions of miles apart in space. And while the conjunction is happening on the same day as the winter solstice, the timing is merely a coincidence, based on the orbits of the planets and the tilt of the Earth.”
The distance between the two largest planets in our solar system is at their very closest positions 4.3x greater than the distance from our nearest star (the Sun) to Earth (4.3 x ~90 million miles): socratic.org/questions/how-far-away-is-jupiter-from-saturn