Posted on 04/07/2017 7:43:22 AM PDT by BenLurkin
his giant world, which harbors nearly three times as much mass as all the other planets put together, attains opposition tonight (April 7), forming a straight line with Earth and the sun. Opposition also marks the point in a planet's orbit when it's closest to Earth; indeed, Jupiter is currently just 415 million miles (670 million kilometers) from Earth.
Interestingly, for the first time in a dozen years, opposition comes when Jupiter is just past aphelion (the farthest point from the sun during planet's orbit, where Jupiter was on Feb. 16). This is therefore one of the most distant oppositions possible for Jupiter, but that doesn't make a huge difference to skywatchers. The planet appears just 12 percent smaller now than it does during its closest oppositions.
And right now, the big planet is shining at an impressive magnitude of minus 2.5. That's nearly three times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky; compare the two at around 9 p.m. local daylight time this week, when they'll appear at about the same altitude above the horizon, Jupiter about 20 degrees high in the east-southeast and Sirius at a similar height in the southwest. (Reminder: Your clenched fist held at arm's length is equal to roughly 10 degrees.)
Take note that Jupiter glows with a steady, silvery-white light, whereas blue-white Sirius seems to scintillate.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Jupiter actually appears yellow, not silvery-white. And it’s brightness around the year doesn’t vary that much. But being opposite the sky as the sun, it’s visible all night.
Last week I saw a very bright planet. Not being up on things, not sure which one.
Got out the binoculars 10x, and saw it and 4 moons. I’ll bet that’s Jupiter. But are those really its moons?
Checking the web, Yes.
Recommended viewing.
Yup. Jupiter’s 4 large moons are easily visible with binoculars or a small telescope. I used to track them for my astronomy class many years ago.
The first time I saw those moons with binoculars...I gasped.
It made me feel in an instant the huge gulf of space between me and what I was looking at.
My library has a telescope for checkout for a week at a time, I am in line and it should be coming up for me any time now. I hope I get good weather!
Not true
Jupiter's closest approach is 1-2 days before or after its Opposition. The difference between Mars' opposition & closest approach can be up to ± 7 days.
But the sun can take it. He doesn't let it bother him.
I live at sea level...in a tidal river. The air is not very good for viewing, but, I hope to set the scope up tonight to look at Jupiter.
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