Great Conjunction and Racing Sun

Tomorrow the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer in the sky than at any time in the past 800 years. Jupiter has been slowly catching up to Saturn and the distance between the two has shrunk. By now they're extremely close--so close Saturn appears little farther from Jupiter than its Gallilean satellites (see above). 

Jupiter, however, is not the only celestial object about to catch up. The sun will soon overtake both planets. Jupiter has reached Saturn and will pass it because, being nearer the sun, it moves more rapidly in its orbit. But Earth is much closer to sol than Jupiter, hence orbits much more quickly. Since the sun's movement along the ecliptic is a reflection of Earth's movement, i.e. far faster than Jupiter, sol will reach the gas giants in a rather short time. 

The speed of Earth and sol is further enhanced by the fact that Earth is now near perihelion, or even closer to the sun than it usually is. Instead of a slow or "standing sun" like in July, there is a now a racing sun. The show will end soon as both gas giants disappear into the rays of the setting sun