The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Narit) has invited public to watch the Great Conjunction 2020, a major astronomical event in which Jupiter and Saturn approach their closest point in 397 years.
"We will see the closest distance between Jupiter and Saturn with only a 0.1 percent radiant difference. Actually the conjunction takes place every two decades. But this time is special as they are drawing their closest for 397 years," Saran Poshyachinda, Narit's director, said on Wednesday.
Narit, a state agency created to promote astronomy and astrophysics among Thais, said the upcoming year will be eventful for stargazers. Among events are meteor showers, a lunar and solar eclipse, super moon and the Great Conjunction 2020.
The event closest to hand is the "Super Full Moon" on Feb 19. On that day, the moon will orbit nearest the Earth, about 356,836 kilometres away.
The Great Conjunction 2020 will start in December next year and run until Nov 21, 2020. "With the naked eye, people can see two planets aligned closer after the sunset," Mr Saran said.
There are two eclipses -- a lunar eclipse on July 17 and solar eclipse Dec 26. The highlight of the lunar eclipse on July 17 comes after 4.31am when 65% of the moon will darken.
For the solar eclipse on Dec 26, the best places to spot it are India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Indonesia. In Thailand, the best spot for solar-eclipse spotting is in Betong district in Yala province where people can see 81% of the sun darken. Watching it in Bangkok, people will only see 56%, and those who watch in the northern most province of Chiang Rai will see only 40%.
Meteor showers, which occur when the Earth passes through a field of particles, are likely in January, April, May, July, August, October, November and December.
Mr Saran said most meteor showers will take place during Dec 13-14 when the rate of meteor shower peaks will reach 140 stars an hour.
In another development, Narit will start installing a 40-metre-radious national radio telescope facility at Huay Hong Krai in Doi Saket in Chiang Mai province next year. Imported from Germany, it will be the largest in the Southeast Asian region, enhancing the country's capacity in astrophysics. On July 25 next year, the agency will also open the country's third planetarium in Songkhla province.