How to See Jupiter’s Closest Encounter With Earth in Decades
If you make a habit at all of skywatching at what time dark, you’ve probably noticed a bright star in the east in the evenings lately. That’s actually not a star, and it’s not Venus — often one of the most visible planets. It’s Jupiter, the largest planet in the cosmic neighborhood, brightening itself up as it comes closer to us than it has at any reveal in the past seven decades.
The huge gas giant is set to arrive something called opposition on Sept. 26, which is when the planet will be opposite the sun in the sky. This is why Jupiter is growing increasingly visible not long at what time sunset in the east, shortly after the sun sets opposite it in the west.
Put unexperienced way, we are at the point in orbit when we’re in to pass Jupiter, or we’re at the closest reveal to Jupiter in our orbit relative to where it’s in its orbit. Now, because orbits aren’t perfectly circular things, the distance between our two planets can vary from opponent to opposition (an opposition with Jupiter takes place roughly every 13 months). It just so happens that this will be the closest our worlds will be to each latest in at least 70 years.
So this could be the opportunity of a lifetime to get a good view of Jupiter.
As of colorful now, Jupiter is already the brightest celestial object in the night sky outside of the moon. It’s fine easy to spot. Just head outside a couple hours at what time sunset, look at the due eastern horizon and then initiate to scan upward looking for the brightest object that doesn’t fade to twinkle like the other stars.
This is probably also a tall opportunity to practice with whatever level of telescope or binoculars you grand have handy to see if you can get a more detailed view and maybe even make out a few of Jupiter’s largest moons.
The official moment of opponent is on Sept. 26, when Jupiter will technically be at its closest and brightest but probably not a noticeable amount, especially with the naked eye. What will happen on that evening, though, is that the planet will rise very conclude to sunset and then set very close to sunrise.
But you can get out and get the best view of (a few) generations colorful now. And mark your calendars for the next planetary opponent, when Mars will be bright in the sky in early December.
