"The giant planet is having a close encounter with Earth all month long. On May 6th, the date of closest approach, Jupiter will be 410 million miles away, which is almost 200 million miles closer than it was just six months ago in October. This makes Jupiter unusually big and bright.
Look for it rising in the east at sunset. Jupiter is unmistakable, shining ten times brighter than any star around it. The view through a backyard telescope is dynamite. You can see Jupiter's cloud belts, the Great Red Spot and four large moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto) circling the planet."
# posted by Shawn Michelle : 2:36 PM
