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Jupiter : close enough to Earth to see without a telescope

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:48 pm
by Boris13c
Jupiter will soon be so close to Earth you’ll be able to see its moons without a telescope
Jupiter, the mighty “king” of the planets in our solar system, is regularly visible for those who know where and when to look for it, but next week will be a particularly special time for anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of the gas giant. The planet and even its moons will be visible without a telescope, and Jupiter will be close to Earth than at any other time for the rest of the year.

In a “skywatching tips” post for the month of June, NASA says Jupiter is “at its biggest and brightest this month, rising at dust and remaining visible all night.”

Jupiter should come closest to Earth near the middle of the month and, while it will still be very, very far way, we should be able to spot Jupiter and some of its larger moons with nothing more than a pair of binoculars as it enters its period of opposition on June 10th.

NASA says that while Jupiter will only be at its closest point for one night, the entire month of June should be prime for Jupiter-gazing: “Jupiter reaches opposition on June 10. This is the yearly occurrence when Jupiter, Earth and the Sun are arranged in a straight line, with Earth in the middle. It’s the best time of the year to see Jupiter, as the planet is visible in the sky all night, and it’s around the time when Jupiter is closest to Earth.”