Rare 'Christmas Star' to shine brightly for first time in 800 years

(KUTV) — For the first time in 800 years, the "Christmas Star" or "Star of Bethlehem" will be visible in the night sky.

During the upcoming winter solstice on Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will align to create the bright star of wonder, Forbes reported.

The two planets have not appeared this close together since the Middle Ages.

“Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to be to one another,” Patrick Hartigan, astronomer at Rice University, told Forbes.

You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.

According to Forbes, a star-sighting of this magnitude won't happen again until 2080.

The star will be visible in the southwest portion of the sky about 45 minutes after sunset in the northern hemisphere on Dec. 21. However, sightings of the star may be visible throughout the week.

Send 2News photos and video of the Christmas Star from your viewpoint and you may it on TV! Just upload here or below.

To view other photo albums on KUTV.com, click here.