Meet Office forecast suggests skies might clear in parts of the Highlands in time for rare Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn; one previous conjunction between the planets is thought to be a potential explanation for the Biblical star of Bethlehem

STARGAZERS will cast their eyes to the heavens shortly after sunset tonight in the hope of seeing an incredibly rare astronomical event that may once have been the Biblical star of Bethlehem.

A Great Conjunction will take place in Highland skies this evening. The event, a close planetary alignment, will see Jupiter and Saturn almost appear to merge in the night sky, as viewed from Earth. The two planets – in reality hundreds of millions of miles apart – have appeared to get closer to each other in the night's sky in recent months as Earth's orbit overtakes them on the inside.

At their closest point, expected to be sometime around 6pm/6.30pm, they will be closer together in the sky than in any other conjunction since the 1600s. Indeed, the gap will appear so small that they will be no further apart than one-fifth the width of a full moon.

A similar conjunction two millennia ago is one of the contenders for the Christmas star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem.

And, what's more, you'll be able to enjoy the sight regardless of the equipment you have. Those using only their naked eye will still be able to gaze up and see the two bright points of light, while those with binoculars or a small telescope should be able to make make out the faint discs of the planets themselves.

To view the latest event – which will be the closest they appear in the sky until 2080 – look to the south-west horizon shortly after sunset. The best time to observe them will be between 4pm and 6pm. The two planets will appear very low to the horizon and will set not long after their closest approach to one another – so make sure to find a vantage point with as few obstructions as possible. Unlike stars, they won't twinkle, making them easier to pick out.

Comedian and TV presenter Dara Ó Briain – who often co-hosts Stargazing Live with Brian Cox – is among those to have pointed their own small telescope at the planets in recent days, although he appears to have been less than impressed with his own amateur efforts to photograph the image.

Damp, grey weather is set to thwart many UK stargazers tonight, but the Met Office is predicting that a band of rain which is currently passing across the Highlands will begin to clear from the west as the moment of the Great Conjunction draws closer – raising hopes that at least some Highlanders will get to watch it.

And, if the cloud does dash hopes tonight, the two planets will still appear close together in coming nights, albeit pulling further apart all the while.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.