Windfall for astroamatorów. On Sunday, Jupiter in opposition - Newsweek Poland

Sunday Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system will be in opposition. You will be able to see her even through binoculars.

Sunday Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system will be in opposition – said dr. Arkadiusz Olech Astronomical Center Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. Opposition astronomers call such a setting outer planet where it shines exactly on the opposite side of the sky than the Sun. – This means that the length of the ecliptic of the planet and the Sun differ by 180 degrees. This configuration always creates very good conditions for observing the body being in opposition. It is located high above the horizon since around midnight, making his observations are the easiest. In addition, its distance from Earth is the lowest, and thus the greatest brilliance – explained astronomer.

Jupiter oppositions occur every 13 months.

According to Dr. Olech, the opposition of the opposition, however, does not equal, because the orbits of Earth and Jupiter are not circles but ellipses. Their flattening means that even in the same opposition just two planets from each other may be different. In opposition, which falls exactly on January 5 hrs. 22.11 our time, Jupiter and the Earth will be divided distance 630,000,000 km.

Jupiter shines in Gemini to the right of the brightest stars in the constellation, ie Castor and Pollux. Glow planet is so large (is now -2.5 magnitude) that its finding should not be any problem. The best conditions for observing Jupiter occur just after midnight, when the planet seen 60 degrees above the southern horizon. A little harder to see it in the evening, because I need it then to look about 10 degrees above the eastern horizon.

– Opposition Jupiter is not only an opportunity to admire the naked eye. It is directed at him any optical instrument. Even with greater magnification binoculars or a simple telescope gives larger at small dozens of times will allow us to see clearly shield the planet and the four Galilean moons of Jupiter. Amateur telescope with a mirror diameter of 15-25 cm will give us even more because we can see the details on the surface of the planet and its moons weaker – Olech said.

Jupiter shines in Gemini

said astronomer, you do not need to be adjusted to the observations only on January 5. The relative position of the Earth and Jupiter varies so slowly that a few days before and a few days after that date, Jupiter will be just as effective, and excellent conditions for its observation will last throughout January.