Jupiter closest to Earth tonight

~Zen~ · Sep 19, 2010

NASA informs us that Jupiter, planet of good fortune (astrologically) is not only conjunct Uranus (astrological planet of surprise and innovation), it is at its closest point to Earth in many years. Jupiter is quite clearly visible every evening of late in the eastern sky. Don't miss it!

Been outside at midnight lately? There's something you really need to see. Jupiter is approaching Earth for the closest encounter between the two planets in more than a decade--and it is dazzling.

The night of closest approach is Sept. 20-21st. This is also called "the night of opposition" because Jupiter will be opposite the sun, rising at sunset and soaring overhead at midnight. Among all denizens of the midnight sky, only the Moon itself will be brighter.

Earth-Jupiter encounters happen every 13 months when the Earth laps Jupiter in their race around the sun. But because Earth and Jupiter do not orbit the sun in perfect circles, they are not always the same distance apart when Earth passes by. On Sept. 20th, Jupiter will be as much as 75 million km closer than previous encounters and will not be this close again until 2022.

The view through a telescope is excellent. Because Jupiter is so close, the planet's disk can be seen in rare detail--and there is a lot to see. For instance, the Great Red Spot, a cyclone twice as wide as Earth, is bumping up against another storm called "Red Spot Jr." The apparition of two planet-sized tempests grinding against one another must be seen to be believed.
Close Encounter with Jupiter (Alan Friedman, 200px)
Jupiter's "kissing red spots" photographed by Alan Friedman of Buffalo, NY, using a 10-inch telescope. The full-sized image shows the golden disk of Jupiter's moon Io.

Also, Jupiter's trademark South Equatorial Belt (SEB) recently vanished, possibly submerging itself beneath high clouds. Researchers say it could reappear at any moment. The dramatic resurgence would be accompanied by a globe-straddling profusion of spots and cloudy swirls, clearly visible in backyard telescopes.

And what was that flash? Amateur astronomers have recently reported a surprising number of fireballs in Jupiter's atmosphere. Apparently, many small asteroids or comet fragments are hitting the giant planet and exploding among the clouds. Researchers who have studied these events say visible flashes could be occurring as often as a few times a month.

Finally, we mustn't forget the moons of Jupiter because they are also having a close encounter with Earth. These are planet-sized worlds with active volcanoes (Io), possible underground oceans (Europa), vast fields of craters (Callisto), and mysterious global grooves (Ganymede). When Galileo discovered the moons 400 years ago, they were no more than pinpricks of light in his primitive spy glass. Big, modern amateur telescopes reveal actual planetary disks with colorful markings.

It makes you wonder, what would Galileo think?

Answer: "I'm getting up at midnight!"
Click to expand...

Plant_Head · Sep 19, 2010

Thanks again for sharing.

The Imaginary Being · Sep 19, 2010

That's good. I love studying planets

must say Jupiter is one of my favourites. My favourite, however, is Neptune.

Irminsul · Sep 19, 2010

Man if I was at home I'd so be using my telescope.

~Zen~ · Sep 20, 2010

Well I think today I will put together the telescope and take advantage of clear skies tonight...

Perhaps I can get a picture of both planets together if I am good enough at what I do....

Happy days!

~Zen~ · Sep 20, 2010

Meanwhile, we can feel the building of a cosmic tsunami as the Sun moves closer toward tomorrow’s opposition with exuberant Jupiter and shocking Uranus, and Wednesday’s intense Aries Full Moon.- Rick Levine

SpacemanSpiff · Sep 20, 2010

Jupiter (made up of gas) .....conjunct with Uranus during a full moon

I know theres a bad joke in there somewhere

jcat · Sep 20, 2010

Sounds like a good thing for my Birthday today yippie!!!!

Bonkai · Sep 20, 2010

Yeah it's closer but it's not necessarily interesting lol.

Plant_Head · Sep 20, 2010

What exactly are we looking for. I looked in the sky opposed to where the sun sets and found the brightest thing. It shimmers, red and white, it seems, with a glow around it. I'm just not sure. is it supposed to be blinking noticeably. and no it's not a plane or sattelite because it stays stationary.

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Bonkai Later guys

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Bonkai Later guys

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