Jupiter and Moon to shine Close Together come Monday 21st 2013
United States: If you are a stargazer, you will have the chance to notice an eye-catching pairing-off between the two brightest objects in the night sky come Monday 21st night.
This is where 78% of the moon will be illuminated will appear to stand just below the silvery Jupiter. It will be the planet Jupiter that will keep the moon company on the America’s Inauguration Night.
US and Southern Canada will experience what they will experience again in 2026. The moon will be about of 248,700 miles (400,500 kilometers) from Earth, and Jupiter will be nearly 1,664 times farther at a distance of 413.8 million miles (665.9 million km).
This is what an astronomer will term as appulse, which is the closest approach of the moon to the Jupiter. The moon will creep just below Jupiter and three times brighter than the brightest star, Sirius.
It will be an illusion that Jupiter will move towards the moon as a similar illusion of the lunar eclipse happens; where the Earth seems to move towards the moon.
The table gives the local times of Jupiter’s closest approach to the moon’s upper edge for the major cities that night across US and Canada. Separation is in terms of a fraction of an angular degree. Width of moon is 0.5 of a degree.
Another illusion is that in the US and Canada, Jupiter will be separated from the moon by at least 0.5 of a degree which is equivalent to the width of the moon. Visually, the planet will appear much closer such that there will be no gap between them.
Make use of your Telescope, if you own one, and see many stargazing opportunities. It is said that the Jupiter’s Great Red Spot can be visible in amateur telescopes from 9 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. EST (6 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. PST/0100 to 0240 GMT). The Jupiter’s icy moon Europa will cross in front of the planet, between 8:13 p.m. and 10:37 p.m. EST (5:13 p.m. and 7:37 p.m. PST/2213 and 2337 GMT).
Occultation, moon hiding or eclipsing Jupiter, will also be experience in some parts of Central South America.Another one will occur on March, 17th 2013.
