>In their closest encounter since 1623, Jupiter and Saturn appear as a single star in the evening sky next month.
NO, they do NOT! at their apparent closest, they will be about one half the width of the full moon apart.
"On conjunction evening, the two planets do not โmerge into a single star.โ While they appear very close together, they are far enough apart to be seen as separate points of light."
https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2019/12/11/2020-december-21-the-great-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-saturn/