On the night of March 8 inhabitants of the earth have seen the opposition of Jupiter – REGNUM

Moscow, March 8, 2016, 06:42 – REGNUM on the night of Tuesday, March 8, the fifth planet of the solar system, Jupiter is located in space relative to the Earth exactly opposite the sun. This configuration of the planets is called opposition.

During the confrontation, Jupiter and Earth are at the shortest distance from each other, so the luminosity of a celestial body in the starry sky increases. Since Jupiter and the Sun are on opposite sides, to watch it on the horizon can be as long as possible. Like the moon on a full moon, Jupiter rises just after sunset and moving across the sky for 12 hours until the morning, when the morning sky again in brightness it will surpass Venus is the brightest celestial body to an observer on earth after the sun and moon.

The current astronomical time interval Jupiter opposition occurs every 13 months. According to the astronomical calendar, past confrontation Earthlings could watch the 9 February 2016, and the next will occur April 8, 2017-th. During the confrontation, falling on autumn or spring months, the slope of the earth’s axis does not obstruct the visibility of the planet, and it rises to a greater distance above the horizon.

Even in a small amateur telescope can see all four large satellites of the planet and see features Jovian atmosphere: swirls and a red spot. While the search for the largest gas giant should be in the constellation Leo, and after August 8th planet enters the constellation Virgo.

Since the distance between the orbits of Earth and Jupiter in the same way in different parts, then observed the confrontation, in which planets are most close to each other. They are called the Great and happen once every 12 years. Last Great confrontation inhabitants of the earth have seen September 10, 2010, and the next time such an opportunity only September 26, 2022 will be displayed. This is due to the periodicity of the duration of Jupiter’s year, which is 11.86 Earth years.

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