Bright object near moon before dawn May 24
the planet Jupiter
(Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Friday, May 23, 2008
The waning gibbous moon and the blazing planet Jupiter ascend over the horizon after midnight tonight and can be found close together before dawn on May 24.
They will be the two brightest objects in the predawn sky. Like the sun, moon and all the other planets, you’ll always find Jupiter in front of the constellations of the Zodiac. Right now, Jupiter and the moon are in front of Sagittarius the Archer – which many in our modern era see in the shape of a teapot.
Jupiter circles our sky every 12 years, moving through all the constellations of the zodiac that often. That’s because Jupiter takes 12 earthly years to orbit the sun. Jupiter is sometimes called the “year star,” because this brilliant world stays in front of the same constellation for about a year.
For instance, Jupiter will remain in front of Sagittarius until the end of this year. Then in early 2009, it’ll move in front of the constellation Capricornus. By early 2010, Jupiter will have moved in front of the constellation Aquarius.
All this weekend, the moon and Jupiter take center stage in the predawn sky. You can’t miss them. As seen from the Americas, the moon and Jupiter will be closer together on Saturday morning. As seen from Australia, New Zealand and Asia, they’ll be closer together on Sunday.
Copyright 2008 EarthSky Communications, Inc.
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If it takes Jupiter 12 earth years to orbit the sun. Is it then only visible at 12 year intervals?
Gus,
Yes, Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the sun. Even though Jupiter only appears in front of a certain constellation of the Zodiac in 12-year intervals, you can see Jupiter every year for most of the year.
The only time you can’t see Jupiter is when it’s on the far side of the sun as seen from Earth. Jupiter was last behind the sun on December 23, 2007. For a period of about one month, centered on Dec. 23, 2007, you couldn’t see Jupiter at all because it was obscured by the glare of the sun.
But starting around mid January 2008, you could see Jupiter in the east at morning dawn, shortly before sunrise. In May 2008, you’ll see Jupiter rising above your eastern horizon around midnight. By July, Jupiter will rise around sunset and will shine all night long. In late December 2008 and early January 2009, you’ll see Jupiter shining at evening dusk but setting in the west before dark. On January 24, 2009, Jupiter will swing behind the sun again.
To put it in a nutshell, Jupiter is visible for at least part of the night for a stretch of approximately 12 months. Then it’s lost in the sun’s glare for about a month, before it reappears in the early morning sky.
Bruce
Is Jupiter easiest to view for a beginner when closest to the moon with a beginners telescope?
Thanks, Bob D
Bob,
Earth & Sky oftentimes uses to moon to point out planets. If you can find Jupiter without the moon, however, it’d be better to look at Jupiter with a telescope on a moonless night. Also, the view is better when Jupiter (or any planet) is an appreciable distance above the horizon. Presently (in May 2008), that’s in the wee hours before dawn for Jupiter. If you’re not much of a morning person, last July and August will be a great time for viewing Jupiter in the evening hours. A little trick to remember: start out with LOW power. If you can get a good focus with a low power, then try your luck with a higher magnification.
Bruce