Bonfire Night may have arrived, but before the fireworks steal the show, nature is putting on its own celestial spectacle to delight stargazers.
Tonight the planet Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye. Offers a look at the largest planet in the solar system.
Here’s how and when to see the gas giant.
When will Jupiter be visible tonight?
Jupiter will be visible in the sky for most of this month, rising in the east at sunset and becoming increasingly easier to spot as time goes on.
However, on Friday, November 3, she will find herself in opposition, which only happens once every thirteen months. This means that it is at the point in its orbit that is closest to the Earth and completely opposite the Sun.
The best time to view the planets is at opposition because they are brighter than normal.
It will be visible to the naked eye overnight from 4:32 pm Friday until 6:54 am Saturday, November 4.
How can you see it in the night sky
According to the BBC Sky at night Jupiter reaches a maximum altitude of about 50° when it is in the south, and maintains this altitude throughout the month in darkness.
It is visible without a telescope, but if you use one, stargazers will also be able to see the planet’s moons and large bands of clouds.
If you look at the night sky with binoculars or a small telescope, you can see Jupiter’s four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
If you use a 100mm telescope, you will also be able to see cloud bands and the Great Red Spot.
What do we know about Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a diameter eleven times larger than Earth, and takes its name from the king of the ancient Roman gods.
It is the fifth planet when viewed from the Sun and appears to have swirls and stripes on its surface.
According to NASA, they are “essentially cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water floating in an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium.”
Jupiter also has the famous Great Red Spot, a powerful storm larger than Earth that has been raging for hundreds of years.
Source: I News
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