Jupiter To Make Closest Approach to Earth Since 1963

Cape Canaveral, Florida  (September 20)- Better catch Jupier this week in the night sky. It won't be that big or bright again until 2022.

Jupiter will pass 368 million miles from earth late Monday, it's closest approach since 1963. You can see it low in the east around dusk. Around midnight, it will be directly overhead. That's because Earth will be passing between Jupiter and the sun, into the wee hours of Tuesday.

The solar system's largest planet already appears as an incredibly bright star - three times brighter than the brightest star in the sky, Sirius . The only thing brighter in the night sky right now is our moon. Binoculars  and telescopes will dramatically improve the view as Jupiter , along with it's many moons , rises in the east as the sun sets.

"Jupiter is so bright right now, you don't need a sky map to find it," said Tony Phillips, a California  astronomer under contract with NASA . "You just walk outside and see it. It's so eye-catching , there it is."

Phillips has never seen Jupiter so bright  . To an experienced observer , the difference is notable," he said Friday.

Conincidentally , Uranus also will make a close approach the same night. It will appear close to Jupiter but harder to see with the naked eye. Through a telecope , it will shine like an enerald-colored disk less than one degree from Jupiter.

Jupiter comes relatively close to Earth  about every 12 years. In 1999, it passed slightly father away.

What's rare this time is Uranus making a close  appearance at the same time , Phillips said. He called it "a once -in-a-lifetime event ." While seen right next to Jupiter  through a telecope , Unanus will be 1.7  bilion miles from earth on Monday night.

Phillips urgues stargazers not to give up if it's cloudy Monday night. Jupiter will remain relatively close for many weeks , he noted , providing good viewing opportunities for some time.  And for those who are early risers instead of night-owls. Jupiter will be visible  setting in the west just before sunrise.

Happy star-gazing.......................