Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Astroblogger (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Tonight (27 September) Jupiter is at its closest Opposition since 1963

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Evening sky on Tuesday, September 27 as seen from Adelaide at 19:46 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

 Evening sky on Tuesday, September 27 as seen from Adelaide at 19:46 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Jupiter is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. Jupiter is visible all night.

Below Jupiter, Saturn forms a shallow triangle with delta and gamma Capricornii.

The insets are the telescopic views of Saturn and Jupiter at the same magnification at this time.

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).  

If you go outside now and look to the north-east you will see a bright golden point of light in the sky, the brightest object in the sky (aside from the Moon) at the moment.  That is Jupiter, at it’s closest opposition since 1963.

An outer planet is in opposition when earth lies directly between it and the Sun, the planet is fully illuminated and is brightest as seen form Earth. The pair are also closest at this point in time. 

However, as planetary orbits are ellipses, not circles, some years Earth and the outer planet will be closer than others, and when Earth is at aphelion, when it is furthest from the Sun, and the planet is at perihelion, when its is closest to the Sun, we have the best view.

For Mars, these perihelic oppositions occur around15 to 17 years apart 9as Mar’s year is roughly 1.9 earth years long, and it takes a while for perihelion and aphelion to come back into alignment) . There was an excellent one in 2003, a very good one in 2018 and the next good one will be in 2035.

Jupiter’s year is 11.9 Earth-years long so there is a much larger gap between Earth’s aphelion and Jupiter’s perihelion aligning.  The last good match was in 1963, 59 years ago. This years isn’t perfect, Jupiter’s perihelion is January 20, 2023 and Earth’s aphelion was on July 4. but it is still the best until October 7, 2129 in 107 years time!

If you are clouded out, don’t worry, unlike Mars, whose disk swells and diminishes rapidly at opposition, Jupiter, being so much further away (and larger) grows and shrinks (and brightens and dims) so it will be brilliantly visible for may weeks to come. This is an excellent time to dust off telescopes and binoculars to observe the gorgeous planet and its shuttling Galilean moons

Even small telescopes will show Jupiter’s bands and perhaps even the great read spot. Binoculars will readily show the bright moons moving from night to night.


Source: http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2022/09/tonight-27-september-jupiter-is-at-its.html


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!


Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST


Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!

HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.

Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.

MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)

Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser!  Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!

Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.

Smart Meter Cover -  Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).

Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.