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NATION WORLD

'Extraordinary' views expected as

Jupiter makes closest approach in
decades

Experts say you'll need a large telescope to see

the Red Spot, but even a good pair of
binoculars will be enough to catch some
details.

Author: Val Lick

Published: 7:13 AM PDT September 25, 2022
Updated: 8:32 AM PDT September 25, 2022

Stargazers have two good reasons to look at Jupiter

Monday night.

NASA says the gas giant will reach opposition — rising

in the East as the sun sets in the West — making it look
larger and brighter than usual for those with clear
skies.

Jupiter's opposition happens every 13 months, but it

coincides with a far more unusual event Monday: The
planet's closest approach to Earth since 1963.

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"Jupiter’s closest approach to Earth rarely coincides

with opposition, which means this year’s views will be
extraordinary," NASA wrote in a blog post.

OTHER NEWS: NASA spacecraft to crash into

asteroid on Monday. Here's how to watch.

Close approaches happen because the planets don't

orbit the sun in perfect circles, passing each other at
varying distances. At its furthest point, Jupiter is about
600 million miles away from Earth. When it makes its
closest approach Monday, NASA says it will be about
367 million miles away.

How to watch Jupiter's opposition:

So will you be able to see Jupiter's famous stripes and

swirls? NASA astrophysicist Adam Kobelski said a pair
of good binoculars should let you see some banding
and three or four of the planet's many moons. A larger
telescope will show you more details on Jupiter's
bands and Great Red Spot.

“The views should be great for a few days before and

after Sept. 26,” Kobelski said in NASA's blog post. “So,
take advantage of good weather on either side of this
date to take in the sight. Outside of the Moon, it should
be one of the (if not the) brightest objects in the night
sky.”

RELATED: NASA releases stunning Webb telescope

images of Neptune and its rings

Earth's moon, which can make faint details in the night

sky hard to spot when full, will be close to new
Monday night — the new moon is on Sunday.

NASA
@NASA · Follow

Stargazers: Jupiter will make its closest

approach to Earth in 59 years! Weather-
permitting, expect excellent views on
Sept. 26. A good pair of binoculars
should be enough to catch some
details; you’ll need a large telescope to
see the Great Red Spot.
go.nasa.gov/3R9CzBR

5:26 PM · Sep 23, 2022

22.2K Reply Share

Read 882 replies

Kobelski said a dark, dry spot with high elevation

would be best for stargazers taking in this sight.
Whether you use binoculars or a larger telescope,
stability will be key.

That's not all!

It's a busy week for Jupiter. NASA's Juno spacecraft,

which has orbited the gas giant for six years, will come
within 222 miles of Jupiter's icy moon Europa.
Researchers are hoping Juno can get some of the
highest-resolution images ever taken of the moon's
surface and collect valuable data.

Europa is one of four "Galilean satellites" — Jupiter's

largest moons, discovered in 1610 by famed
astronomer Galileo. Scientists predict that a salty
ocean lies beneath Europa's frozen surface.

Juno has sent back images of Jupiter and its moons

for years, but NASA recently unveiled unprecedented
shots of the planet from the James Webb Space
Telescope. The artificially-colored infrared images
captured Jupiter's northern and southern lights, the
Great Red Spot, and countless smaller storms.

! " #

Juno's mission will run until 2025 or until the end of

the spacecraft's life.

NASA's next big plan for Jupiter exploration is the

Europa Clipper, a spacecraft intended to explore
Europa in nearly 50 flybys and find out whether its
conditions could support life. The craft is currently
being assembled, with a launch planned in 2024.

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