The phenomenon occurs when the Earth, the Moon, and Jupiter align in a straight line in space. Observers tracking the event witnessed the precise stages of the lunar occultation, starting with Jupiter’s close approach as it neared the bright lunar limb at dawn. This was followed by the ingress (entry), where the 38% illuminated waning crescent Moon caused the giant planet to completely disappear behind its edge. After being obscured for several minutes, the event concluded with the egress (exit), as Jupiter slowly reappeared on the other side of the Moon. Brunei Darussalam was positioned within the specific global viewing path, which also crossed Australia, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia.

The exact timing of the event varied slightly depending on the district. In Bandar Seri Begawan, the occultation lasted roughly 17.5 minutes, with Jupiter disappearing at 06:13 AM and reappearing at 06:30 AM. In Tutong, the event began at 06:10 AM and concluded at 06:33 AM.

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Although the phenomenon occurred during daylight hours, Jupiter’s bright magnitude of -2.0 and its high position in the sky allowed it to be observed using binoculars and telescopes. Stargazers began tracking the approach since predawn hours and observing Jupiter as a bright ‘star’ situated closely beneath the Moon.

This morning’s alignment is considered a rare astronomical event for local observers. The last visible lunar occultation of Jupiter in Brunei took place over a decade ago on August 6, 2016, and the next opportunity to witness this phenomenon from the Sultanate will not occur until April 12, 2038.

Local astrophotographers and members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD) successfully documented the entire sequence from multiple locations across Brunei:

It’s a Ramadan end treat when the two naked-eye planets appear stunningly close next to each other or astronomically known as conjunction.

“Morning Star” Venus will appear 0.2° next to the gas giant Jupiter, which is a very close encounter at pre-dawn hours on Sunday, May 1.

If the sky is clear, it will be visible to the naked eye, and observers will see them merge into one super bright glare in the sky. Use our live sky chart to determine the position of the planet in our sky here.

You can enjoy the spectacle with an ordinary pair of binocular or a small telescope as both worlds will fit within the field of view.

In fact, in a century (from 2001 until 2099), there are only 22 events of which the bright celestial duo pass within 0.5°, which is less than the angular diameter of the Moon in the sky. However, since Venus is positioned close to the Sun, conjunction occurrences involving this planet most of time happen during daylight which are less favorable.

The next Venus-Jupiter to get this close again will be on November 02, 2039.

Updated Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Two of the gaseous giants, Saturn and Jupiter, continue to pass each other in the evening sky this week. The angular separation of the planets will steadily increase in the next few days, and both of the planets will hang just above the western horizon in the twilight sky.

Today the sky was pretty clear to catch the post great conjunction moment from Brunei Darussalam Live stream video of the cosmic event can be found www.bruneiastronomy.org/youtube

Monday, December 21, 2020: The Great Conjunction

It was a cloudy day in most areas of Brunei Darussalam. Unfortunately, clouds has blocked skywatchers’ from viewing the celestial phenomenon in Brunei.

The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam conducted the planetary alignment at 3 observation sites – Keriam, Pantai Jerudong & Penaga. Live streaming of the event can be found here www.bruneiastronomy.org/youtube The Great Conjunction was only visible momentarily by the members of PABD from Jerudong Beach:

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Despite being cloudy, the celestial trio – Jupiter, Saturn and the crescent moon – offered a spectacular sight in the twilight sky just now, December 17, 2020.

The planetary pair is easier to see with the naked eye and they are already closer together.

Another 3 days to go for the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Hopefully, the Brunei weather will cooperate in the next few days.

In the next few days, Jupiter and Saturn will get super close in a rare celestial alignment of the Great Planetary Conjunction which has not occurred since 1623 and will be viewable from Brunei Darussalam.

Live streaming of the Great Conjunctions from Brunei Darussalam:
www.bruneiastronomy.org/youtube
www.facebook.com/bruneiastronomy

Jupiter & Saturn meet in the sky: The orbital mechanics of alignment Jupiter and Saturn occur about 20 years apart. But this year, the Great Conjunction of the two planets is about 0.1° separation.

It is so rare that both gas giant planets can be seen in the field of view of a telescope and binoculars. Previously alike astronomical  occurrence happened on July 16, 1623. The next one will be on March 15, 2080.

Some updates of the astronomical event from Brunei:

You can share your pictures of the conjunction by posting it on your social media with #bruneiastronomy or send them via Telegram apps t.me/bruneiastronomy

Monday, December 14, 2020

The planets are currently visible to the unaided eye and appear very close in the western sky after sunset. Amazingly, Saturn’s and Jupiter’s largest moons are also visible in the same field of view with the aid of a telescope.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

How large the planets appear in the sky, as seen through a telescope? This photograph of the planets taken last night shows the actual apparent size for comparison, measured in arcseconds (“).

The following table shows the planets apparent size as seem from the ground telescopes. Notice that the size varies depending on the planets’ distance from the Earth because all the planets orbit the Sun on different elliptical paths.

These stunning photos show the three planets and the earth’s moon all shining brightly in day light, even after sunrise.

You can still see the moon shine with the planets at best before dawn this week.

Join our Group discussion and share your cosmic photo moments via Telegram t.me/bruneiastronomy or WhatsApp www.bruneiastronomy.org/wa

Photos by Hazarry @zrryahmad of PABD

The largest planet Jupiter with its four Jovian moons and the red planet Mars visibly fit in the same FOV of a small telescope (about 0.7° separation).

These photos of planetary conjunction were taken by Hazarry from Kampong Keriam.

Bandar Seri Begawan – These are some of exciting and not to be missed cosmic events visible in Brunei to look up next week.

March 18 until March 20, 2020: Three bright planets – Mars, Jupiter and Saturn- will join the crescent moon to form a cosmic cluster in the Eastern sky at dawn from Brunei Darussalam.

Friday and Saturday dawn (March 19 and 20): Mars and the gas giant Jupiter will be in close conjunction when both planets are less than 1° apart. They are very close enough (0.7 degree separation) to both fit into the same field of view with a telescope or binocular.

Friday, March 20, 2020: The earliest vernal equinox is at 11:51 am since 1896. It occurs when the sun passes directly over the equator and day and night have the same length.

Hopefully, weather will cooperate for this cosmic conjunction.

UPDATE: June 30, 2015. Some photos of the event.

The moon, mighty Jupiter and bright stars cluster of Pleiades appear in celestial conjunction on the night of Dec 25, 2012. Stargazers will be able to see the moon is closed to the planet and stars cluster through the night sky. A great opportunity to all astrophotographers in Brunei to capture the spectacular event.