Getting together: Saturn and Jupiter converge in the sky to form 'Star of Bethlehem' as planets appear closer than at any other time in last 800 years

土星和木星在天空中聚合形成“圣诞星”，这是近800年来相距最近的一次

Jupiter and Saturn appeared closer to each other in the night sky tonight than they have in 800 years — forming a celestial beacon akin to the 'Star of Bethlehem'.

这是近800年来土星和木星相距最近的一次，形成了一个类似于“圣诞星”的天体灯塔。

The gas giants — the largest planets in the solar system — have been slowly getting closer in the sky since the summer, and appeared like a double planet system.

这两颗气态巨行星——太阳系中最大的行星——从夏天开始就在天空中慢慢靠近，看起来像一个双行星系。

Coinciding with the Winter Solstice, the conjunction could be viewed by eye from anywhere on Earth.

恰逢冬至，地球上的任何地方都可以看到这一相合景象。

The planets looked around a fifth of a full moon's width apart earlier tonight — appearing low above the horizon in the UK — and can be seen for the rest of the week until Christmas Day.

这两颗行星的距离大约是满月宽度的五分之一——它们出现在英国地平线上的低处——在本周余下的时间直到圣诞节都能观看到。

The German astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote in 1614 that he believed the 'star of Bethlehem' in the Nativity story may have been a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

德国天文学家约翰内斯·开普勒在1614年写道，他相信耶稣诞生故事中的“伯利恒之星”（圣诞星）可能是木星和土星的合相。

Others researchers have suggested instead that the 'three wise men' may have followed a triple conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn and Venus.

其他研究人员则认为，“东方三贤士”可能是跟随了木星、土星和金星的三重合相。

While Venus won't be part of the this week's conjunction, it will still be an impressive astronomical site — one best viewed on the equator, but visible worldwide.

虽然金星不会出现在这周的会合中，但这仍将是一个令人印象深刻的天文景象——在赤道上观看最佳，但在世界各地都可以看到。

The event comes in a busy week for stargazers, with the Ursid meteor shower — the last for this year — peaking tonight and continuing into early tomorrow morning.

对于观星者来说，本周是忙碌的一周，今年的最后一场流星雨将在今晚达到高峰，并将持续到明天清晨。

At its height, the shower produces around five shooting stars an hour, which will burn up as they pass through the atmosphere at around 36 miles per second.

流星雨达到最高峰时，每小时大约产生5颗流星，当它们以每秒36英里的速度穿过大气层时，就会燃烧起来。

Like the conjunction, the Ursids will be visible to the naked eye — but will most easily seen in areas with little light pollution.

和土星木星合相一样，肉眼也能看到流星雨——但在光污染少的地方看得最清楚。

英国每日邮报读者的评论：译者：Jessica.Wu

Hangonamin, Lincoln, United Kingdom

As long as they keep more than 2 mtrs apart, things should be okay.

只要它们保持2米以上的距离，就应该没问题。

wonderwoman, somewhere , United States

This is a sign of hope.

这是希望的象征

Wamqq, SoCal, United States

NASA has suggested this event is purely a coincidence. I don't think it's a coincidence this is happening days before Christmas in one of the worst years on record.

NASA认为这一事件纯属巧合。发生在圣诞节的前几天,我不认为这是一个巧合,今年是史上最糟糕的年份之一。

onelove555, Sacramento, United States

We are guests on this planet, please be kind to the Earth and each other.

我们是地球上的过客，请善待地球，善待彼此。

me, SF Bay Area, United States

I've been watching this for a quite a while. Last night they were very close together before they disappeared behind the mountains. It was very bright and beautiful to behold. I'll be outside again tonight.

我观看了很久，昨天晚上，它们靠得很近，然后消失在群山后面。非常明亮，非常。今晚我还会在外面观看。

Little blue Lever, Bolton, United Kingdom

Alas in the north of England we rarely get a chance to star gaze due to the crap weather we always seem to get.

唉，在英格兰北部，我们很少有机会能看到星星，天气总是不好。

Ultramagnetic mc, the ultra lab , United Kingdom

The Age of Aquarius

宝瓶时代

Simeon, London

They were close together last night

昨晚它们靠得很近

Andrea, buckingahm, United Kingdom

You wait 800 years for this sight, and then thick cloud means you can't see it. Really disappointed

等了800年才能看到这一幕，但是厚厚的云层意味着看不到，真的很失望

Velvetcoke7, Beverly Hills, United States

This isn't a coincidence. This is a devine intervention from another holy place that we haven't seen yet.

这并不是巧合，这是神的干预

Hala, London, United Kingdom

Bet it's raining & we cant see it !!!

我打赌会下雨，我们看不见!!

Sazzle, Brighton, United Kingdom

Its a shame its been absolutely tip down with rain in the U.K. I would have liked to see this

可惜的是，英国一直在下雨，我很想观看这一幕

reb leicester, leicester, United Kingdom

Meanwhile most of the UK misses it again due to crap weather

由于糟糕的天气，大多数英国人错过了这一幕

bubbles, london

It drives me mad, every time there is one of these events it's cloudy!

每次有这类景象，就多云，我要疯了

iconicfigure, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This is a massively significant event.

这是奇观

RWT, York

I've been watching them get closer for the past few nights but tonight looks like its going to be cloudy. Sod's Law.

在过去的几个晚上，我一直在观看，它们越来越近，但今晚看来是多云。墨菲法则。

WarwickTregurtha, Penzance, United Kingdom

Just like the solar eclipse I cannot see it because of solid cloud cover.

就像日食一样，由于云层密布，我看不见。

MsHope80, louisville, United States

I need a telescope.

我需要一个望远镜。

Andy1, Norfolk, United Kingdom

Nothing but clouds for me!

对我来说，除了云什么都看不见!

Calereux, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom

Really disappointed. Couldn't see it because of the clouds. But my young son thought he saw it. Turned out it was a street light, but I didn't like to tell him!!!

真的很失望。因为有云，我看不见。但我的小儿子说他看到了，其实他看到的是路灯，但我不想说穿!