Jupiter is now becoming more prominent in our evening skies and will reach this year’s opposition from the Sun on August 14. On that date it will be 4.0278 AU from Earth at magnitude -2.9. Other than the Moon, it easily will be the brightest object in the evening sky.
The giant planet will transit a little higher than in recent years for northern hemisphere observers, but still far from ideal. Observing will get easier each of the next few oppositions.
In April the Earth passed through Jupiter’s equatorial plane. It is similar to the orbital plane of the Galilean satellites, so we are in a period in which they can mutually occult, transit or place their shadows upon each other.
Jupiter is currently in apparent retrograde motion and will resume direct motion on October 12. It will reach eastern quadrature (90° from Sun) on November 10. Then it move into conjunction behind the Sun on February 28.
On my astronomical webpage I’ll frequently post graphics previewing Galilean satellite shadow transits across Jupiter and mutual events among the satellites. Right now I show a diagram of Jupiter’s movement against the sky. It can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical
Photos and descriptions of Jupiter and its satellites near opposition would be welcome additions to this thread.
The giant planet will transit a little higher than in recent years for northern hemisphere observers, but still far from ideal. Observing will get easier each of the next few oppositions.
In April the Earth passed through Jupiter’s equatorial plane. It is similar to the orbital plane of the Galilean satellites, so we are in a period in which they can mutually occult, transit or place their shadows upon each other.
Jupiter is currently in apparent retrograde motion and will resume direct motion on October 12. It will reach eastern quadrature (90° from Sun) on November 10. Then it move into conjunction behind the Sun on February 28.
On my astronomical webpage I’ll frequently post graphics previewing Galilean satellite shadow transits across Jupiter and mutual events among the satellites. Right now I show a diagram of Jupiter’s movement against the sky. It can be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical
Photos and descriptions of Jupiter and its satellites near opposition would be welcome additions to this thread.
For astronomical graphics, including
monthly wallpaper calendar, visit:
CurtRenz.com/astronomical
Curt Renz
