[ad_1]
Monday, June 10 will be the best night of the year to contemplate Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. This is because the gas giant will be directly in front of the sun. Basically, the opposition means that Jupiter, the Earth and the Sun will be aligned.
This is special because when celestial objects are directly in front of the sun, they appear brighter in the sky. And as Jupiter moves closer to Earth closer to Earth this year, it will look slightly larger. Jupiter joins the opposition once every 13 months – so you will not want to miss this opportunity to see her and her four brightest moons.
Jupiter is like a miniature solar system
With its 79 (!) Moons, Jupiter is a bit like a mini solar system. The planet is composed of the same basic ingredients as the sun – mostly hydrogen and helium – but does not have enough mass to ignite and become a star. One of the reasons that explains its multiplicity is that its gravity is very strong, which allows it to easily capture objects from space in orbit.
Currently, the NASA spacecraft Juno revolves around Jupiter and doing the most minute study of the planet so far. The hope is that a close study of its surface can reveal a history of the origin of our solar system. It could also deepen our knowledge of the incessant violent storms that invade its atmosphere. One question: why is Jupiter's famous big red stain so big that it could engulf the entire Earth? narrowing mysteriously?
In April of last year, NASA took advantage of the lightening conditions as Jupiter was getting closer to the opposition to take this photo of the gas giant with the Hubble Space Telescope. This photo shows Jupiter in all its iridescent, marbled mole splendor.
Juno began to look closer and closer, her orbit bringing it closer to the poles of Jupiter.
How to watch Jupiter at the opposition
Although your observations do not contain such amazing details, there is still a chance to marvel at the planet.
You should be able to observe Jupiter and his four brightest moons – Io, Europa, Callisto and Ganymede (you can see them on many clear nights) – with a pair of binoculars. And with a telescope, you'll see some of the individual cloud belts on Jupiter, and maybe even the big red spot.
During the opposition, Jupiter will rise at dusk in the southeast sky (to the northeast if you are in the southern hemisphere) and stay in the sky until dawn. I suggest using a smartphone app, such as Sky Guide, to find it and track it for yourself.
[ad_2]
Source link