• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Jupiter to make its closest approach to Earth in almost 60 years

Home> News

Published 14:14 21 Sep 2022 GMT+1

Jupiter to make its closest approach to Earth in almost 60 years

The largest planet in our solar system will be at its most visible next Monday evening.

Tom Fenton

Tom Fenton

Jupiter may be the biggest planet in the Solar System by a sizeable margin, but its sheer distance from Earth means that we so rarely get to see it with the naked eye.

However, according to NASA, visibility of Jupiter will soon be at its best in almost 60 years.

The American space agency says it will orbit within 367 million miles of Earth next Monday (26 September) - the closest it's been since 1963.

This is significantly closer than the 600 million miles or so that usually separates the two uniquely beautiful and colourful planets.

Advert

It should also be fairly easy to spot in the night sky, thanks to the positioning of the sun at the time of it passing closest to The Earth.

As NASA Marshall Space Flight Center research astrophysicist Adam Kobelski states: "Outside of the Moon, it should be one of the (if not the) brightest objects in the night sky."

Stockbym / Alamy Stock Photo

The reason for this revolves around the fact that the sun will be setting in the west at the same time that Jupiter rises in the eastern sky - meaning they will be in 'opposition'.

Advert

Therefore, all wannabe astronomers should look towards the eastern horizon on Monday evening, where a bright and relatively visible Jupiter should be situated in the sky.

All things being well, it will be possible for people to view Jupiter with the naked eye during that time; although, as Dr Kobelski states, binoculars will allow for more detailed viewing.

He added: "With good binoculars, the banding (at least the central band) and three or four of the Galilean satellites (moons) should be visible."

Jupiter and Venus visible in the sky from the Giants Causeway.
Stephen Emerson / Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

"It’s important to remember that Galileo observed these moons with 17th century optics."

The Galilean satellites are Jupiter's largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganeymede and Callisto.

A telescope of four inches or more should provide the clearest view of the planet, with the addition of green and blue filters likely to guarantee the best sight of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and the banding of its cloud layers.

Kobelski concludes: "The views should be great for a few days before and after September 26.

Advert

"So, take advantage of good weather on either side of this date to take in the sight."

Most recently, detailed images of Jupiter were taken by NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft, which is testing the effect of an impact on an astroid's flight path.

The pictures show Jupiter's rings, as well as several of its 79 moons.

Advert

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected] 

Featured Image Credit: Newscom / Alamy Stock Photo/ ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Science, Technology, Space

Tom Fenton
Tom Fenton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    'Ozempic economy' explained as research suggests drug could save US taxpayers $173,000,000,000 a year

    The diabetes drug could help to reform the US economy

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Legendary actor Michael Madsen has died aged 67

    Madsen was best known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill

    Film & TV
  • 7 hours ago

    Kanye West has been banned from entering Australia over one of his songs

    Kanye West will not be touring in Australia anytime soon

    Celebrity
  • 8 hours ago

    Donald Trump makes shocking threat to deport New York mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani

    Zohran Mamdani has responded to the POTUS' threats against him

    News
  • How NASA will make closest ever approach to the sun in historic 3,800,000 mile mission
  • Scientists make staggering discovery about the Earth and Moon from 1,400,000,000 years ago
  • Mystery surrounding Jupiter's supervolcano moon has been solved after almost 50 years
  • World's first 4k stream from space is now live and already captured a solar eclipse and devastating hurricane during its journey around Earth