Section updated: Dec. 3rd, 2024
Jupiter's Opposition to the Sun -- Dec. 6th, 2024
On the evening of Friday the 6th of December, FAU's Astronomical Observatory will be celebrating Jupiter's Opposition to the Sun. This is a FREE, public viewing, open dome event to come together and explore the king of the planets, JUPITER.
| Date: | Friday Dec. 6th - Saturday Dec. 7th 2024. |
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| Time: | 7:00 pm until 1:00 am. | |
| Activities: |
Presentations about Jupiter, its moons and Juno, the current planetary probe mission to Jupiter, the Europa Clipper, a newly launched planetary probe mission to Jupiter's moon of Europa, plus observations of the Jupiter system! |
Details: On Dec. 6th at 2003 EST, the Earth will have moved in its orbit to perfectly place the planet Jupiter at the sky's opposition to the Sun. This means the outer planet will appear to be in the directly opposite direction of the sky from as the Sun, hence the name of "opposition". This happens when the Earth gets directly in line between the outer planet and the Sun. Such perfect celestial alignments are called a syzygies. At that time, we will be only 4.089403336 au away from the planet and be as close as we can be to the planet for this orbital pass, which should provide us the best telescopic views of the planet for the year!
BUT our views of it will get even better this year, as the king of the planets will appear near the ecliptic's maximal height for us above our horizon. So, we will look at it nearly through the least amount of atmosphere for us. The atmosphere normally blurs our views of space beyond it. So, with Jupiter appearing so high up, especially around midnight, it will provide greater details of its clouds than we would see for the next 12 years.
So, you are welcome to come to the Observatory to celebrate and observe the planet at its perihelion opposition with us, while pondering some of the astronomical mysteries, such as how did our planets come to exist, that are connected with the event. This invitation is open to anyone from FAU, the community, their friends and family to come and enjoy.
After all, it is your universe, too!
