Jupiter's celestial path...and up close!

Event Date: January 15th

Time: 8:45.21 PM

Brief

      After the challenge of seeing dim Mars low towards the horizon last night, Jupiter is the next planet I will talk about, being much higher in the sky than Mars while visible all evening long.  Transiting at the time above, I am including the meridian and celestial path.  Being about 6 weeks past opposition, these are some of the best weeks to see Jupiter high in the sky during early enough hours--particularly for most kids of various young ages who have to be in bed at proper times--to stay up and view.  On some evenings, look for the great storm [red spot], while on other nights, lower magnification (if viewing with a telescope) to enjoy deeper contrast between the bands of clouds: belts for the darker ones, zones for the lighter ones; crystallizing ammonia makes up the clouds.

   The two images below show the celestial paths zoomed out and in, with further explanation of the markers to follow:

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp

Detailed

   Jupiter has had an interesting journey against the stars over the last four months.  After beginning retrograde in October, opposition in early December, and ending retrograde later this season, it has "flirted" with the Hyades star cluster.  The nearby Pleiades has received a little more attention as well, and it will be within binocular view of the planet by the time the next stationary [positioning] of Jupiter comes up.  Even now, wide-field binoculars can fit the two together, depending how much of the Pleiades you really want to fit.  As for Aldebaran, the red-giant star near the Hyades, it is also getting some notice, being the brightest star of Taurus.

   As for the increment marker separation changes, mentioned at the end of the brief, we see that the markers get very close at the time of the first stationary, become further apart at the time of opposition, and now closer again as Jupiter becomes further from opposition, on its way to trine (120º of elongation) with the Sun.  This angle value doesn't have to be remembered exactly, yet if you do and can keep track of Jupiter's position in the sky with the Sun, it is worthwhile.  After all, it is about at that elongation with the Sun--whether it be west or east--that outer planets have their stationary "spots", sandwiching retrograde motion.