The starry sky has an appointment丨The "giant planet" Jupiter "sunshine" on the 20th, can be seen as a jewel all night
Xinhua News Agency, Tianjin, August 18 (Reporter Zhou Runjian) As one of the easiest celestial bodies to be observed with the naked eye, Jupiter is deeply loved by stargazers with its colorful stripes.
Astronomical science experts introduced that after the "Lord of the Rings" Saturn staged the "Oscillation" on August 2 this year, Jupiter, known as the "Giant Planet", will also stage the "Oscillation" on August 20, and its brightness will reach -2.88, the brightness is second only to Venus that night, visible all night.
The so-called "Oscillation" of Jupiter means that when the earth and Jupiter are in their respective orbits until the sun, the earth and Jupiter line up in a straight line or nearly a straight line, the direction of Jupiter and the sun from the earth are opposite, and their yellow longitudes differ by 180 degrees. The phenomenon.
Jupiter is the closest to the earth before and after the opposition, and it is also the brightest.
According to Song Yuanyuan, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society and expert in popular science at Tianjin Science and Technology Museum, Jupiter is usually the third brightest natural celestial body at night after the moon and Venus.
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and the planet with the fastest rotation. Because its revolution period is about 12 years, it was also called the "year-old star" in ancient China.
"After entering July, Jupiter's observational conditions are getting better and better, and reach the best before and after this'opposition'. On the 20th, Jupiter will rise from the southeast after the sun sets. Due to its high brightness, it is very easy. Recognition. Not far from Jupiter, a gibbous moon of the thirteenth lunar calendar and bright Saturn will also appear, and the "binary moon" is very lively. As time goes by, Jupiter is near the zenith at midnight. The height of the horizon is the highest, and it is also the most convenient to watch. In addition to visual observation, the interested public can also observe Jupiter’s stripes and the oval-shaped Great Red Spot using binoculars or small astronomical telescopes. Among them, the Great Red Spot is on the surface of Jupiter. The characteristic sign is the largest storm cyclone on Jupiter." Song Yuanyuan said.
The Jupiter system is like a small solar system, with 79 moons currently known to Jupiter.
"Among these satellites, the most famous are the four Galileo satellites. These four satellites are numbered from Io to Callisto. They were discovered by the Italian astronomer Galileo in 1610. The period of their revolution around Jupiter ranges from nearly From 2 days to about 17 days, Ganymede is also the largest satellite in the solar system. Interested members of the public can try to find them through a small astronomical telescope that night." Song Yuanyuan said.