Jupiter

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/NASA

Anyone with access to a telescope in Kamloops or the Okanagan may want to take a peek at Jupiter this week – it’s making its closest approach to earth in 59 years.

Even with the naked eye it’s easy to spot because it’s the brightest object in the night sky this week, said Jack Newton, who owns the Observatory Bed and Breakfast in Osoyoos.

But through his telescope, Newton can see the two prominent belts that line the gas giant.

“We’ve been watching it every night and it’s been putting on quite a nice show,” he said.

With the planet so close it’s a perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Great Red Spot, however Newton says he hasn’t gotten lucky enough with the timing to see it yet this week. He said Jupiter rotates so fast that the spot is only visible for about an hour at a time.

READ MORE: Guests get far-out experiences at Observatory B&B in the South Okanagan

Newton’s large telescope is powerful enough to observe the planet in the daytime. But he says the rare occurrence is worth witnessing through any size of telescope. Most people should be able to make out the belts with binoculars or a smaller telescopes, but larger equipment is needed to see the dot.

For anyone who wants to observe Jupiter while it's relatively close, he says the planet rises early in the evening towards the eastern sky.

“Right now is the best time to have a look at Jupiter and all the wonderful detail on it.”

The evening of Monday, Sept. 26 is when Jupiter and the earth will be at their closest point, a mere 590,000,000 kilometres from earth – the two planets haven’t been that close since 1963, according to NASA. Conversely, there is a distance of 965,000,000 km between the two bodies when they're at their furthest points from one another.

And don't worry if you're unable to view Jupiter during the peak evening – Newton said the viewing opportunities will be just as good for several days before and after the night of the closest approach. 

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