Earth-Jupiter Close Encounters – Jupiter at Opposition 2022

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Earth-Jupiter Close Encounters – Jupiter at Opposition 2022

September 13th, 2022

Awake Goy

In late September 2022, Jupiter will be in opposition to the sun. The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time of the year to check out the solar system’s largest planet. Earth will sweep between the sun and Jupiter on Sep. 26, 2022, placing the giant planet opposite the sun in our sky and closer than in 70 years. On September 26, Earth and Jupiter will have a close encounter at only 367 million miles apart (591 million km). Earth-Jupiter close encounters happen every 13 months, when Earth’s orbit laps Jupiter’s orbit in their race around the Sun. Through binoculars Jupiter reveals a bright disk. If you look closely, you’ll see the Galilean satellites appearing as pinpoints of light, arrayed in a line that bisects the giant planet. Jupiter shines more brightly than any star in the evening sky. On September evenings, look for Jupiter near the eastern horizon after sunset. You don’t need any special equipment to see Jupiter, but just your eyes! Just go outside and enjoy the show. The next Jupiter opposition occurs on the night of November 3, 2023.

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