As the planets move, they will occasionally be found close together in the sky.
In ancient times, astrologers interpreted these groupings, or conjunctions, of planets with stars or other planets as signs that something astounding was about to happen because of supernatural influences.
Tight groupings of several planets were believed to be especially significant.
- (See the article “Conjunctions that Changed the World” by Bradley Schaefer in the May 2000 issue of Sky and Telescope.