You can already see Jupiter twinkling low in the east after twilight, and higher in the southeast as the evening wears on. But it will be brightest in the second half of September. The gas giant’s closest approach will be at a distance of 368 million miles on Monday, September 20. Its previous swing-by in August 2009 was 2 percent farther, and the next approach in October 2011 will be a little less than 1 percent more distant.

Jupiter is also brighter than usual by about 4 percent because one of its brown cloud belts is hidden.

Uranus will be visible in the same part of the sky until September 24, though you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to see it. The full moon will appear right above Jupiter on September 22, which is coincidentally the fall equinox.

Image: 1) NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute 2) Time exposure of Jupiter among the stars. The red streaks are from the photographer walking away with a red flashlight pointed at the ground.Babak A. Tafreshi

See Also:

• Hubble Finds Jupiter’s Missing Stripe
• Red in Jupiter’s Spot Not What Astronomers Thought
• Jupiter’s Magnetic Moon Generates Spectacular Light Show
• Hubble Snaps Sharpest Image Yet of Jupiter Impact

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Authors: Lisa Grossman

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