“Astrologers can expect excellent views of Jupiter throughout the night of Monday, September 26, when the giant planet reaches opposition,” it said.
        According to NASA, from the perspective of Earth’s surface, opposition occurs when an astronomical object rises in the east as the Sun sets in the west, placing the object and the Sun on opposite sides of the Earth.
        Jupiter’s opposition occurs every 13 months, making the planet appear larger and brighter than at any other time of year.
        “But that is not all.  Jupiter will also make its closest approach to Earth in 70 years!” NASA said.
        He also said that Jupiter’s closest approach to Earth rarely coincides with opposition, as both planets do not orbit the Sun in perfect circles – meaning the planets will pass each other at different distances over the course of the year. .
        According to NASA, Jupiter will be about 365 million miles from Earth.  At its farthest point, the planet is about 600 million miles from Earth.
        According to Adam Kobelski, a research astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, with good binoculars, the belt (at least the central belt) and three or four of the Galilean satellites (moons) should be visible.
        Kobelski recommends a larger telescope to see the Great Red Spot and Jupiter’s belts in more detail.  a 4-inch or larger telescope and some filters in the green to blue range will improve the visibility of these features.
        According to Kobelski, an ideal viewing location will be at a high altitude in a dark and dry area.
        “Views should be great for a few days before and after Sept. 26,” Kobelski said.  “So take advantage of good weather either side of this date to see the spectacle. Outside of the Moon, it should be one of (if not the) brightest objects in the night sky,” he said.
        Jupiter has 53 named moons, but scientists believe a total of 79 moons have been identified.  The four largest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, are called Galilean satellites.  They are named after the man who first observed them in 1610, Galileo Galilei. 
        NASA’s Juno spacecraft has been in orbit around Jupiter for six years, dedicated to exploring the planet’s surface and its moons.  Juno’s mission was recently extended until 2025, or until the end of the spacecraft’s life.
        Scientists believe that studying Jupiter can lead to groundbreaking discoveries about the formation of the solar system. 
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