The Great Conjunction - Take in Mind

Next Monday, December 21, we will witness a very outstanding event – the so-called “Great Conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets of our solar system. Please calm down – no collisions or explosions are expected… This will be purely a visual effect: the angular distance between these giants, when viewed from Earth, will be so small that the planets will look almost like one celestial body.

The upcoming “alignment” is a really infrequent event. These planets move relatively slowly – Jupiter completes its revolution around the Sun every 12 Earth years, and Saturn does so approximately every 30 years. Therefore, they “mimic” rather rarely (the previous one was almost 800 years ago).

The angular distance between the two giant planets will be about a fifth of the size of the full moon (that is a microscopic distance when viewed from Earth). By the way, the next “conjunction” between Jupiter and Saturn will occur in about 20 years, in October 2040, but then the angular distance between them will be 10 times greater than now. Only on March 15, 2080, the angular distance between the two planets will be the same as on Monday.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.
Credits: NASA/ Bill Ingalls

It is not clear how this “confluence” will affect us geophysically or biologically, but, without a doubt, historians, astrologers and… theologians will be delighted. Why? Some historical calculations suggest that the “Star of Bethlehem”, which marked Jesus Christ’s birth, was a conjunction of two planets. Moreover, the famous German astronomer Johannes Kepler associated the “Star of Bethlehem” with the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Furthermore, the upcoming event will take place on the winter solstice, a few days before the Catholic Christmas.

Therefore, if immediately after watching the heavenly event you see three people in rich, but very strange clothes – do not be surprised! But seriously, let’s not forget that the New Testament was written tens and even hundreds of years after the described events, and practically no one kept records of celestial phenomena, it is much more likely that the relatively frequent “alignment” of Jupiter and Venus could become the “Star of Bethlehem” prototype.

So, dear fans of physics, astronomy, astrology, theology, mysticism, and just curious people! Multiple YouTube channels will broadcast the event live. But those of you who do not like simple Internet solutions can just look at the evening sky on December 21.

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About man’s fidelity!

…and there is another story. Once Thomas Edison’s wife told him: “Darling, you are so tired! Go somewhere, relax, have a rest, enjoy your time…” Edison listened to his wife’s wise advice, instantly packed up, and disappeared somewhere… The next day she found the inventor… in his own laboratory, where he actually spent the previous day and night, working with enthusiasm. To her surprised question, happy Edison replied: “Oh my, I’ve rested so well!”

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was a famous American inventor and businessman

Take a look

Once upon a time, a Brahmin (sage) invented the game of chess to teach the cruel Raja (the ruler) to treat his subjects well. In that game, the “Raja” (the name of one of the chess pieces) is the head of the state. If the “Raja” is captured, then his state ceases to exist. In case of danger, the “Raja” cannot survive without his faithful defenders and assistants – other figures.

The Raja was amazed by the game, understood its meaning, and promised not to oppress his subjects in the future. He then asked the Brahmin to choose the greatest reward he may wish for. The Brahmin replied that he wants to be rewarded with… wheat, but based on the following calculation: put one grain on the first cell of the chessboard, two on the second, four on the third, eight on the fourth, etc., doubling the number of grains on each subsequent cell.

The Raja, seeing that there are only 64 cells on the board, was surprised at the insignificance of the request. He decided that it’ll take about one or two sacks of wheat to fulfill it and gave the order to issue the reward immediately. Soon, the court mathematicians reported that the Raja would have to give so many grains, for which it would be necessary to sow the entire Earth, and the grown wheat would be enough to feed the whole population of Earth for 100 years.

Of course, the Raja could not fulfill his hasty promise and received another wise lesson from the inventor of the game of chess.

— A folk tale. Retold in the book “A complete course of chess: 64 lessons for beginners and not very experienced player”s, by S.B. Gubnitsky, M.G. Khanukov, S.A. Shedey.

The photo (own work) illustrates the second part of the fable, about exponential growth. In some variations, rice is requested instead of wheat, but in the photo, Wild Rice is used. The chess pieces’ positions are not random but positioned as in one of the first known chess riddles. In fact, it’s not even a chess riddle, but a Mansuba, a Shatranj problem, composed by Abu Na’im al Khadim (9th century). Shatranj is an old form of chess, with very similar rules. The differences in the rules don’t affect the riddle. White to move, and mate in three.

An easier view of the riddle is available in the first comment. Can you solve one of the oldest chess riddles?

Image source: Own work.

Think about

A few words about imagination

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ― Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist.

The great German mathematician David Hilbert (1862–1943) noticed that one of his students had started missing his lectures. When he asked for the reason, he was told that the student had left mathematics in favor of poetry. “Ah, yes,” said Hilbert, “I always thought he didn’t have enough imagination for mathematics…”

It is strange that only extraordinary men make the discoveries, which later appear so easy and simple. Georg Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799) was a German experimental physicist.

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself.” Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer, mathematician, physicist, and philosopher.

“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” — Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) was an American inventor and businessman.