<p>A conjunction is when two objects have the same Right Ascension (ie the same longitude in the sky)  When planets have conjunctions they will be close to each other, since they follow the ecliptic. The time of conjunction might not be the time of closest alignment. A conjunction is a moment in time you can only have two planets in conjunction, not three or more.</p>

<p>An alignment is a less precise term meaning "in a line".  There can be several planets roughly in a line.</p>

<p>There are some conjunctions this spring: Mars passes Jupiter (on 20 March) and Saturn (on 31st March) in the morning sky, close to the sun. Because Jupiter and Saturn move slowly, they won't reach a conjunction with each other until December. Again this will be too close to the sun to be observe easily.</p>

<p>There will be times when Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the moon are all roughly aligned in the morning sky this spring. The planets are going to remain roughly aligned, and the moon moves quickly so will pass through. But as the sun is also nearby, it won't be much of a spectacle.</p>

<p>Be aware that in some news reports and so on "conjunction" is used less formally. A close alignment can look quite impressive, and so may be reported in non-specialist media. But, for example, the moon has a conjunction with each of the planets every month (and there was a conjuction between a crescent moon and Venus at the end of Feb 2020). Conjuctions are not themselves rare.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T17:28:48.250Z
Thanks a lot. Here in Spain, there is a media, a regional television channel, repeating everyday that there is a conjunction between Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon in the morning sky. They have made me doubt because nobody has complained about. I am sick and tired of listening them.
VansFannel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T22:43:18.913Z
@VansFannel. Depending on how it was phrased, the Moon was at or near conjunction with Mars on Feb 18, 2020, near conjunction with Jupiter on Feb 19, and near conjunction with Saturn on Feb 20. So the report could be accurate if it was referring to the Moon and each planet. It would have been wrong if they said that one planet was in conjunction with another planet. The two answers correctly indicate when Mars will be in conjunction with Jupiter and Saturn.
JohnHoltz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T07:20:54.530Z
@JohnHoltz Today, Feb 27, the same reporter said that, yesterday at sunset, Venus and the Moon were in vertical conjunction. Is that correct? Sorry, but I cannot understand the meaning of near conjunction. Thanks a lot.
VansFannel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T17:02:57.547Z
2020-02-27T20:12:25.623Z
2020-02-27T20:12:25.623Z
James K
<p>Strictly speaking, a
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunction_(astronomy)" rel="noreferrer">conjunction</a>
is when two objects appear at the same
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_coordinate_system" rel="noreferrer">right ascension</a> or  <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic_coordinate_system" rel="noreferrer">ecliptic longitude</a>.
These are not exactly the same but are usually close since the major planets remain near the ecliptic.</p>

<p>When Venus or Mercury is in conjunction with the Sun, we distinguish between inferior (near side) and superior (far side) conjunction.
The outer planets can have another type of alignment, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_(astronomy)" rel="noreferrer">opposition</a>, in which they are 180&deg; away from the Sun around the equator or ecliptic.</p>

<p>When two solar system objects appear only a few degrees apart, it's fair to say they are <em>near</em> conjunction.
If they don't quite reach conjunction, their minimum angular separation is called an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appulse" rel="noreferrer">appulse</a>.</p>

<p>Mars is in conjunction with Jupiter on March 20 and with Saturn on March 31.
Other planet-planet conjunctions are <a href="https://in-the-sky.org/article.php?term=conjunction" rel="noreferrer">listed here</a>.
On 2020-12-21 Jupiter and Saturn will appear only 0.1&deg; apart at conjunction and should be interesting to see together in a telescope shortly after sunset.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-20T17:46:19.670Z
2020-02-20T17:56:28.510Z
2020-02-20T17:56:28.510Z
Mike G
<p>I have a doubt about planetary conjunction.</p>

<p>These days, we can see Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon close to each other.</p>

<p>I mean if Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon were in conjunction with each other, last February, 19th, 2020.</p>

<p>Is this a conjunction or is it an alignment?</p>

<alignment><conjunction>
Are we seeing a conjunction these mornings?
VansFannel
# Are we seeing a conjunction these mornings?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-20)

I have a doubt about planetary conjunction.

These days, we can see Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon close to each other.

I mean if Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon were in conjunction with each other, last February, 19th, 2020.

Is this a conjunction or is it an alignment?

**Tags:** alignment, conjunction


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-02-20. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Strictly speaking, a
[conjunction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunction_(astronomy))
is when two objects appear at the same
[right ascension](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_coordinate_system) or [ecliptic longitude](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic_coordinate_system).
These are not exactly the same but are usually close since the major planets remain near the ecliptic.

When Venus or Mercury is in conjunction with the Sun, we distinguish between inferior (near side) and superior (far side) conjunction.
The outer planets can have another type of alignment, [opposition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_(astronomy)), in which they are 180° away from the Sun around the equator or ecliptic.

When two solar system objects appear only a few degrees apart, it's fair to say they are *near* conjunction.
If they don't quite reach conjunction, their minimum angular separation is called an [appulse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appulse).

Mars is in conjunction with Jupiter on March 20 and with Saturn on March 31.
Other planet-planet conjunctions are [listed here](https://in-the-sky.org/article.php?term=conjunction).
On 2020-12-21 Jupiter and Saturn will appear only 0.1° apart at conjunction and should be interesting to see together in a telescope shortly after sunset.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-02-20. Score: 5

A conjunction is when two objects have the same Right Ascension (ie the same longitude in the sky) When planets have conjunctions they will be close to each other, since they follow the ecliptic. The time of conjunction might not be the time of closest alignment. A conjunction is a moment in time you can only have two planets in conjunction, not three or more.

An alignment is a less precise term meaning "in a line". There can be several planets roughly in a line.

There are some conjunctions this spring: Mars passes Jupiter (on 20 March) and Saturn (on 31st March) in the morning sky, close to the sun. Because Jupiter and Saturn move slowly, they won't reach a conjunction with each other until December. Again this will be too close to the sun to be observe easily.

There will be times when Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the moon are all roughly aligned in the morning sky this spring. The planets are going to remain roughly aligned, and the moon moves quickly so will pass through. But as the sun is also nearby, it won't be much of a spectacle.

Be aware that in some news reports and so on "conjunction" is used less formally. A close alignment can look quite impressive, and so may be reported in non-specialist media. But, for example, the moon has a conjunction with each of the planets every month (and there was a conjuction between a crescent moon and Venus at the end of Feb 2020). Conjuctions are not themselves rare.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks a lot. Here in Spain, there is a media, a regional television channel, repeating everyday that there is a conjunction between Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon in the morning sky. They have made me doubt because nobody has complained about. I am sick and tired of listening them.  
> **username_2**: @username_0. Depending on how it was phrased, the Moon was at or near conjunction with Mars on Feb 18, 2020, near conjunction with Jupiter on Feb 19, and near conjunction with Saturn on Feb 20. So the report could be accurate if it was referring to the Moon and each planet. It would have been wrong if they said that one planet was in conjunction with another planet. The two answers correctly indicate when Mars will be in conjunction with Jupiter and Saturn.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Today, Feb 27, the same reporter said that, yesterday at sunset, Venus and the Moon were in vertical conjunction. Is that correct? Sorry, but I cannot understand the meaning of near conjunction. Thanks a lot.  

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