Grab your binoculars so you can catch a glimpse of Jupiter in June.
It would appear that June 10th and 15th are the optimal days to view the planet as it moves into prime position.
NASA took to Twitter to alert astronomers of the big news hoping they will be making the most out of viewing the stars this month.
National Geographic said in a recent article, “look for Jupiter to be at its best and brightest for the entire year. That’s because the largest planet in the solar system will officially reach opposition—meaning it will be directly opposite to the sun from our perspective and will be well lit and visible from sundown to sunrise.
“Opposition also means that Jupiter will be at its closest to Earth in its orbital cycle, coming within 398 million miles of us. This will make it 11 million miles closer than last year’s opposition, so it should be stunningly bright, outshining even the nearby brilliant star Antares.”
The best time to observe the planet is when it’s highest in the sky – around midnight local time, AccuWeather said.
What’s up in the June sky according to NASA this month:
- Jupiter is at its biggest and brightest this month, rising at dusk and remaining visible all night.
- In mid-June, Mars and Mercury appear ultra-close together immediately after sunset for two days, on June 17th and 18th.
- Bonus: Learn how to observe the Moon’s tilted orbit.
