Jupiter is at its closest to Earth in 59 years, NASA says

Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, will make its closest approach to Earth in 59 years on September 26th.

Earth and Jupiter make close approaches roughly once a year. The perigee approach to our planet rarely coincides with the arrangement that sees Earth in between the sun and Jupiter. On Sept. 26 and Sept. 25 opposition occurs.

The gas giant planet will be large and bright in the sky, making it a great place to look at its features. skywatchers with binoculars or a small telescope should be able to see Jupiter for several days around the two milestone events. Dark skies and dry weather help improve the planet's visibility.

Adam Kobelski, a research astrophysicist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, said that the views should be good for a few days before and after Sept. 26. Take advantage of the good weather on either side of the date to see it. It should be a bright object in the night sky.

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Earth and Jupiter cross paths at different distances because the planets of the solar system circle the sun differently.

Jupiter completes an elliptical path around the star every 4,333 Earth days or 12 Earth years.

NASA says the gas giant will be close to our planet next week. Jupiter is about one billion miles away from Earth. In October 1963, skywatchers were able to see Jupiter in the sky for the first time in fifty years.

Some of Jupiter's most interesting attributes should be seen from Earth.

Kobelski said that the band should be visible with good binoculars. It's important to remember that Galileo saw these moons.

The four largest moons are the Galilean satellites. The moons should be visible on either side of the gas giant.

There is a vast ocean on the moon and it is being used to investigate whether life could exist elsewhere in the solar system. The Jovian moon will be the location of theEuropa Clipper's launch. The Jupiter Icy Moons will be launched by Europe in April of 2023.

The Great Red Spot is a storm that has been raging through the atmosphere of Jupiter for at least two centuries.

The Great Red Spot is believed to be the largest storm in the solar system. The winds can be as high as 450 mph and as low as 270 mph. The Great Red Spot has a surprising depth according to recent observations by NASA's Juno. The storm is twice as wide as our planet and can reach from the ocean floor to the space station.

Scientists think studying Jupiter could help explain how the solar system formed.

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