Look Up It's Here! Jupiter Is Now At Its Closest To Earth

37,747 views Oct 26, 2023
Jupiter is at its closest to Earth as the planet has reached its opposition.

A superior planet is said to be at opposition when the Earth comes between the planet and the Sun. From the viewpoint of Earth's surface, during opposition, the astronomical object rises in the east as the Sun sets in the west, placing it and the Sun on opposite sides of Earth. Jupiter's opposition occurs every 13 months, making the planet appear larger and brighter than any other time of the year. Since Jupiter, just like other planets, goes around the Sun in an elliptical orbit, its opposition does not always coincide with its closest approach. The gas giant will make its closest approach to Earth on the night of 1st- 2nd November, when the distance between the Earth and Jupiter will be 370 million miles or 595 million km. That's one of the closest approaches to Earth in decades.

Then, Jupiter will reach opposition on November 2-3 at 5 GMT or 12 a.m. CDT, bringing Jupiter opposite the Sun in our sky. Jupiter's last opposition was noteworthy as the planet was at its closest to Earth in over 70 years, at 367 million miles. So, Jupiter will be