Jupiter is about to be closer to Earth than it has been in years — here’s how to see it

NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill (CC BY 2.0)

Jupiter will be at its most visible on May 8. The planet will be in opposition to the sun, which means it’ll be on the exact opposite side of Earth to the sun.  Your best chance of getting a glimpse will be around 1:00 a.m. on May 8th when the gas giant is due south. 

Space-watchers, get excited:  Jupiter is about to be closer to Earth than it has been for years, and it’ll make for some prime viewing.

The gas giant will be in “opposition” during the nighttime hours of May 8th, which means it’ll be on the exact opposite side of Earth to the sun. Jupiter will also swing within 409 million miles of Earth — 5 million miles closer than last year’s opposition — making the planet shine extra bright in the sky, according to National Geographic. See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: The surprising reason we boil lobsters alive

See Also:

NASA is launching a quake-hunting lander to Mars today — here’s how to watch the InSight blast off liveEvery spacesuit NASA astronauts have worn — and the new models that may revolutionize how they explore the solar system15 facts about space that will blow your mind

SEE ALSO: NASA’s $1 billion mission to Jupiter may soon end — here are the best images Juno has taken of the giant planet

Read more: feedproxy.google.com