Jupiter's Close Approach to Earth in Opposition Offers a Good View of Its Cloud Band

On Sep. 26, Jupiter will be closest to Earth, and it will be in an astronomical phenomenon called opposition. This planet will appear particularly big and bright in the sky, providing a rare chance to observe its features.

Jupiter in Astronomical Opposition

Every 13 months, Jupiter experiences opposition. Once a year, the planet and Earth get very close to one another. Opposition, according to Space.com, occurs when an astronomical object rises in the east as the Sun sets in the west. It places the object and the Sun on opposite sides of Earth from the perspective of the planet's surface.

Rarely does the configuration that places Earth between the Sun and Jupiter-known as perigee-coincide with the big planet's closest approach to our planet. However, this time, opposition happens on Sep. 26 and the closest approach is on Sep. 25.

The gas giant will be approximately 367 million miles (590 million kilometers) from our planet during next week's near approach, according to a NASA statement. Jupiter is roughly 600 million miles (960 million km) from Earth at its furthest point. Jupiter's last close approach to Earth and the last time observers could see it so big and dazzling in the sky was in October 1963.

Best Time to View Jupiter

For several days, Jupiter should be in an excellent position for skywatchers, which can be viewed using binoculars or a small telescope. The planet will be more visible if you can find a location with a higher elevation, dark skies, and dry conditions.

According to research astrophysicist Adam Kobelski at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, the views should be spectacular for a few days before and after Sep. 26. He advised taking advantage of any favorable weather before or after this day to enjoy the view. It ought to be one of, if not the, brightest objects in the night sky beside the moon.

(Photo : Michael Watts/Pixabay)
Jupiter Illustration

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Jupiter's Galilean Satellites and the Central Band

According to Kobelski, three or four of the Galilean satellites and the planet's banding-at least the central band-should be seen with decent binoculars. He said that astronomers should be able to see Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a storm that has been raging across the planet's atmosphere for at least two centuries, using a larger, more powerful telescope.

The four largest of Jupiter's 79 known moons are the Galilean satellites, according to Space.com. These moons, which go by the names Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, ought to be discernible as bright specks on either side of the gas giant.

The Great Red Spot is supposed to be the largest storm in the solar system, measuring around 10,000 miles (16,000 km) across. Winds with gusts between 270 mph (430 to kph) and 425 mph (685 kph). It has a remarkable depth, according to recent measurements made of it by NASA's Juno spacecraft. The storm is deep enough to span from the ocean floor of Earth to the International Space Station and is already twice as big as our planet.