A major astronomical event will take place on December 7 when Earth will come between the Sun and Jupiter. Because of the alignment – known as an opposition to Jupiter – the gas giant will be visible throughout the night, giving skywatchers a rare chance to see our solar system’s largest planet.
On December 6, Jupiter will be at a distance of 611 million kilometers or 380 million miles from Earth at around 5 pm IST. This proximity guarantees that the planet will be at its brightest, thus making it the best opportunity for telescope hobbyists to examine its atmospheric belts and Galilean moons.
How to identify Jupiter
on the night of 7 December, Look to the east-northeast near Taurus as Jupiter rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. With a telescope, you can marvel at its intricate cloud bands and see its four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
This celestial alignment, where sunlight reflected from Jupiter takes approximately 34 minutes to reach Earth, promises a dazzling experience for stargazers across India. Whether one is interested in astronomy or a keen observer, this event reminds us of the wonders of our solar system.
according to forbes, Earth’s fast orbit will momentarily place it between the Sun and Jupiter. As a result, we will be able to see 100% of Jupiter’s disk, as close as we can get to Earth at 380 million miles (612 million kilometers).
Since we are now just a few days away from Jupiter being at opposition, the planet is now becoming extremely bright. Although opposition has a specific date, a month on either side is the best time to view the planet using even a small telescope or a pair of binoculars.
What is a ‘full’ Jupiter?
Opposition means full Jupiter because its sunward side is completely illuminated by the Sun. Looking away from the Sun at night toward the outer Solar System, we see the sunward side of Jupiter on Earth. It’s a lot like the full moon; 50% of the Moon is always illuminated by the Sun. Only our perspective changes accordingly Forbes.
