Jupiter - closest ever

Channel Hopper

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
and worth looking out for.

It's only 570 million miles away, the closest it's been to Earth for yonks.

Have a look to the south from about 2am onwards, the brightest thing on that part of the nightsky at mag -2.9 or so.

With a cheap set of binoculars you should see the four main moons, with a telescope most of the planetary gas layers will come into view.

_http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/bright-star-might-be-planet-jupiter-closest-since-1951
 
Just my luck, it's looking cloudy here tonight by the forecast. The last few nights, I've noticed a bright object to the East after 22:30 (European time) will this be Jupiter?

(Or is it aliens taking another cow for an experiment?)
 
Quite possibly, it will rise in the south east but reaches its maximum elevation later on in the night.
 
Yes, it is quite low down when I've noticed it. Luckily light pollution is very low here, which helps a lot.
 
So how do the aliens manage to see the cows ?
 
Easy, if it's a mooooonlit evening.
 
"I thank you!"
 
And tonight's programme is all about the planet.

_http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tnwks
 
They use their 'udder' infra red lights
 
I have been looking at a really bright star over the past few days and now i know what it is its cloudy tonight and cant see it.
 
Well luckily the forecast was wrong and it's a very clear night. Despite being divebombed by hornets,I managed to find Jupiter and just to it's right a much smaller object, which I took to be one of it's moons. Only had binoculars and it was difficult holding them focussed, but very satisfying to find a planet and know what it is!

(No aliens abducting cows though)
 
Yes, it is a great view - this planet is BIG!

BTW If You are worried about aliens and cows be sure You where a steelhat when You are walking in the forest next time. Woodpeckers have hard beaks......
 
No, not worried about cows and aliens...........or woodpeckers for that matter. But I make sure I wear my safety helmet when walking the dogs.....just in case....
 
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