Giant views: Jupiter to be visible at closest point in almost 60 years | news

What’s up next week Canada? Jupiter certainly is – and it will be closest to Earth in almost 60 years.

Stargazers can get an extraordinary view of our solar system’s largest planet on Monday, September 26, when the giant planet reaches opposition.

According to NASA, opposition occurs when “an astronomical object rises in the east while the sun sets in the west, placing the object and the sun on opposite sides of the earth.”

In layman’s terms, you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime view of Jupiter.

For those with a galactic score at home, Jupiter is 11 times wider than Earth and has an unfathomable radius of 69,911 kilometers. If our tiny planet were the size of a nickel, Jupiter would be essentially the size of a basketball.

According to NASA, Jupiter’s opposition occurs every 13 months, causing the planet to appear larger and brighter than at any other time of the year. But that’s not all. The gas giant will also make its closest approach to Earth in the last 59 years.

“This happens because Earth and Jupiter don’t orbit the Sun in perfect circles — which means the planets pass each other at different distances throughout the year,” NASA clarifies. “Jupiter’s closest approach to Earth rarely coincides with opposition, meaning this year’s prospects will be exceptional.”

At its closest approach, Jupiter will be about 367 million miles from Earth, about the same distance as it was in 1963. The space agency says the massive planet is about 600 million miles from Earth at its furthest point.

“With good binoculars, the streaks (at least the central band) and three or four of the Galilean satellites (moons) should be visible,” said Adam Kobelski, a research astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. “It is important to remember that Galileo observed these moons with 17th-century optics. One of the most important requirements will be a stable mount for whatever system you use.”

Kobelski recommends a larger telescope to see Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and its bands in more detail; a 4 inch or larger telescope and some green to blue filters would improve the visibility of these features.

The astrophysicist says an ideal observing spot will be at high altitude in a dark and dry area.

“The view should be great for a few days before and after September 26,” adds Kobelski. “So take advantage of the good weather on both sides of this date to enjoy the sight. Outside of the moon, it should be one of (if not the) brightest objects in the night sky.”

Jupiter imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope on June 27, 2019 (NASA, ESA, A. Simon)

Refresh your Jupiter knowledge

According to NASA, Jupiter has 53 named moons, but scientists believe as many as 79 moons have been discovered in total. The four largest moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto – are called the “Galilean satellites”. They are named after the man who first observed them in 1610: Galileo Galilei.

In binoculars or a telescope, the Galilean satellites should appear as bright dots on either side of Jupiter during opposition.

NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which has been orbiting Jupiter for the past six years, is dedicated to exploring the planet and its moons. Juno began its journey in 2011 and reached Jupiter five years later.

Since 2016, the spacecraft has been providing incredible images and data about Jupiter’s “living atmosphere, internal structures, internal magnetic field and magnetosphere.”

If you want to learn more about the giant planet, you can read NASA’s Jupiter overview here. And if you want to know what else is happening in the sky in September, check out Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s latest What’s Up video: