Jupiter will approach Earth on Monday: Tips for seeing it without a telescope

Spring comes with a very special light, a light Jupiter. And this planet This Monday 26th September Its closest approach to Earth in the last 59 years.

Moreover, the giant of the solar system can be seen No need to use a telescope. what the subject is about? As I mentioned before ContainerThere are two main factors when understanding this phenomenon: Convergence and opposition.

Opposition to Jupiter

The opposition of the body occurs, in relation to the earth, This is located on the other side of the sun. In the case of Jupiter, it occurs every 13 months, making the planet appear larger and brighter than at any other time of the year.

Now, however, there is another additional case, and at the same time The planet has also been approaching Earth since 1936, Almost six decades. This is because Earth and Jupiter do not orbit the Sun in perfect circles, so the two planets pass at different distances during the year, and the approaches of the two bodies rarely coincide.

NASA estimates that the gas giant will be about 590 million kilometers from Earth during its approach, versus 960 million kilometers at its farthest point.

Tables and how to see Jupiter from anywhere in the world

Currently, it is not possible to recommend a specific time for each country, since the planet and its rings can be seen at any time throughout the days 25, 26 and 27 September. Only the following recommendations should be taken into account.

“With some good binoculars, The bands (at least the central band) and three or four Galilean moons (their moons) should be visible,” he explained. Adam Kobelsky An astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement.

In addition, the researcher pointed out the importance of having a file good tripod To get a better view of the gas planet: “One of the basic needs is a stable installation of whatever system you’re using.”

To see the Great Red Point and the belts of Jupiter in more detail, Kobelsky recommends using a larger telescope, such as a telescope of at least four inches, And add green to blue filters to capture other features. In addition, it is perfect take a high position as an observation point, In a dry and dark place.

As an astrophysicist defines it, The views of the planet should be excellent for a day before and after September 26, But usually the date used depends on the weather, since Jupiter, along with the Moon, should be one of the brightest (or) objects in the night sky.

Facts about Jupiter, the gas giant in the solar system

Jupiter The largest celestial body in the solar system, with a Mass 318 times that of Earth And 3 times larger than the planet Saturn.

However, Jupiter is not a planet like Earth, but rather a ball of gas composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. However, in its bowels is a dense, rocky core about 20 times more solid than the Earth.

The planet also has winds of about 370 km / h, with gusts of up to 650 km / h. In the outer atmosphere, average temperatures are around 152°C. It has 79 moons orbiting around it, although more accurate observations indicate that it could contain at least 600 irregular moons more than one kilometer in diameter.

In fact, the first observations of the moons of Jupiter are attributed to Galileo Galilei, who, armed with a home-made telescope, was able to discover that the Sun (and not the Earth) is the center of the universe and that the planets and the stars revolve around it.

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