• Albert O. Fischer

Bright Jupiter

The biggest planet in our solar system will be at its closest to the Earth tomorrow. Jupiter is 380 million miles away, it's closest in a year.

Jupiter is big. And while it is close, its brilliance is not much brighter than usual. Being close helps, but the planet is so remarkably faraway and big, it really doesn't matter.

You can fit at least a thousand sized Earths inside the planet. Astronomers have long reported that if Jupiter were only a bit bigger it could shine as a star. The planet already emits a lot of heat from its core and radio waves too. It just isn't big enough.

You can find Jupiter rising in the East soon after sunset. The planet is in the zodiacal constellation Taurus. Were it not for Venus hugging the western sky after sunset, Jupiter would be the brightest planet in our sky. Venus in the west is brighter.

Sunrise and Sunset
Day Sunrise Sunset
Fri., Dec. 6 6:53 4:11
Sat., Dec. 7 6:54 4:11
Sun., Dec. 8 6:55 4:11
Mon., Dec. 9 6:56 4:11
Tues., Dec. 10 6:57 4:11
Wed., Dec. 11 6:58 4:11
Thurs., Dec. 12 6:59 4:11
Fri., Dec. 6 6:53 4:11
Temperatures and Precipitations
Day Max (Fº) Min (Fº) Inches
Nov. 27 55 33 0.04
Nov. 28 54 33 T
Nov. 29 57 35 0.42
Nov. 30 47 33 0.00
Dec. 1 42 25 0.00
Dec. 2 39 21 0.00
Dec. 3 41 26 0.00
Dec. 4 48 33 0.81

The red planet Mars rises in the east a few hours afterwards and while it is bright, Jupiter is so much brighter.

 

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 41º F

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