When Jupiter reaches opposition on Monday, September 26, astrologers can expect incredible views of Jupiter throughout the night. From the perspective of the Earth’s surface, opposition occurs when an astronomical object rises in the east as the Sun sets in the west, placing the object and the Sun on opposite sides of the Earth. Every 13 months, Jupiter is at opposition, making it appear larger and brighter than at any other time of the year. But that is not all. This time, Jupiter will also make its closest approach to Earth in 59 years. This is because Earth and Jupiter do not orbit the Sun in perfect circles, causing the planets to pass each other at different distances during the year. This year’s views will be highly unusual because Jupiter’s closest approach to Earth rarely coincides with an opposition. Jupiter will be about 367 million miles from Earth at its closest approach, which is about the same distance it was in 1963. The giant planet is about 600 million miles from Earth at its furthest point. “With good binoculars, the belt (at least the central belt) and three or four of the Galilean satellites (moons) should be visible,” said Adam Kobelski. He is a research astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “It is important to remember that Galileo observed these moons with 17th century optics. One of the key needs will be a solid foundation for whatever system you use.” This photo of Jupiter, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on June 27, 2019, shows the Great Red Spot, an Earth-sized storm that has been raging for hundreds of years. Credits: NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center) and MH Wong (University of California, Berkeley) Kobelski recommends a larger telescope to see the Great Red Spot and Jupiter’s belts in more detail. For example, a 4-inch or larger telescope and some filters in the green to blue range will improve the visibility of these features. An ideal viewing location will be at a high altitude in a dark and dry area, according to Kobelski. “Viewing should be great for a few days before and after Sept. 26,” Kobelski said. “So take advantage of the good weather either side of this date to see the spectacle. Outside of the Moon, it should be one of (if not the) brightest objects in the night sky.” Although astronomers believe a total of 79 moons of Jupiter have been identified, the giant planet has 53 named moons. Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto – the four largest moons – are called Galilean satellites. They were named after Galileo Galilei, the man who first observed them in 1610. In binoculars or a telescope, Galileo’s moons should appear as bright dots on either side of Jupiter at opposition. As the Moon rose over the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City on February 27, 2019, the planet Jupiter was visible, along with three of its largest moons. Astrologers should take a similar view during Jupiter’s opposition on Monday, September 26. Credit: NASA/Bill Dunford NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which entered Jupiter’s orbit on July 4, 2016, is dedicated to exploring the planet and its moons. Juno began its journey in 2011 and arrived at Jupiter five years later. Over the past six years, the spacecraft has provided incredible images and data about Jupiter’s living atmosphere, internal structures, internal magnetic field, and magnetosphere. Scientists believe that studying Jupiter can lead to groundbreaking discoveries about the formation of the solar system. Juno’s mission was recently extended until 2025, or until the end of the spacecraft’s life. Learn more about Juno. The next big project to explore Jupiter is the Europa Clipper. This spacecraft will explore Jupiter’s iconic moon Europa, which is known for its icy shell and the vast ocean that lies beneath its surface. NASA scientists aim to find out if Europa has conditions capable of sustaining life. The Europa Clipper’s targeted launch is currently scheduled for no earlier than October 2024. Learn more about the giant planet. And if you want to know what else is happening in the sky for September, check out Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s latest “What’s Up” video: What are some of the highlights of sky watching in September 2022? Mars is in motion this month, forming a “red triangle” with the bright red stars Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. Saturn and Jupiter fly by the Moon on the 9th, and then the Moon slips closer to Jupiter in the morning sky on the 11th. At the end of the month, September 23rd brings the equinox, meaning day and night are nearly equal duration and a change of seasons is underway.
