When, and where, is Jupiter visible in the sky?
Asked by
Qingu (
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June 9th, 2010
(Specifically, in the North Pole)
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25 Answers
I find WolframAlpha to be handy for figuring out where in the sky objects are: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Jupiter (you can even do the ISS). If you want to try a location you’re not at currently try “Jupiter from San Francisco, CA” or whatever.
Look here
—relative to your own longitude and latitude.
Haven’t looked at the links, but it’s visible in the morning sky. You can’t miss it. If you look with binoculars and can hold them steady you’ll see the moons.
This site will show you what’s visible at your coordinates and at your time. Jupiter is between the 8 and 9 o’clock, near the horizon, if you live near St. Louis, MO.
@Rarebear: You’d need 8x magnification and a tripod or a place (like a chair back or tree branch to steady the binocs. I have tried here (very dark skies and good seeing except for the ambient light from Albany to the NW) with a 7×35 and had no luck.
@Nullo; Factor in the earth’s rotation and give us the time that Jupiter is visible at at that spot. Do you mean ENE?
I am trying to figure out what would be happening at the N. Pole., but can’t manage to envision it. Jupiter would probably circle the horizon but below it. I am guessing that it would not be visible now.
Quingu; Factoring in the earth’s rotation and revolution and Jupiter’s orbit is too much for me.
@gailcalled I’ve used 7 power binocs and have seen the moons. And you’re right, a tripod helps.
@Rarebear: Where were you observing? You probably have stronger wrists than I do.
Unfortunately, Jupiter is blocked by tall white pines when it rises. Then the sun also rises and that is that until Jupiter becomes an evening star. I’ll try again.
With my binocs I can see the double cluster in Hercules. I can also see two blurry mothballs with my peripheral naked-eye vision.
@gailcalled My front yard. And yes, I prop the binocs up or use a tripod.
You must live in dark skies (wait, you said that) if you can see the Double Cluster with the naked eye. That’s cool. You need a telescope (I can recommend some good inexpensive ones).
@Rarebear: Thanks but the small telescopes are disappointing after having seen the computer-enhanced photos from Hubble. I have a neighbor who teaches high school science; and he let me look through his telescope. The images weren’t much to write home about.
I like to sit on my deck and fiddle with my binocs. What brand and exact size do you have? I’ve heard that Canon now makes Image Stabilizers on some of theirs, but that they are heavier and also run through batteries.
@gailcalled Fair enough. Nothing is going to be as good as Hubble images, so unless you get a rush out of finding things yourself, it’s not worth it. You just mentioned finding the Double Cluster so I thought you might be. I do my own astrophotography and my images aren’t as good as Hubble either—but they’re mine!
My binocs are just a pair of Orion 10X50 binocs which I’m going to replace soon as the optics are shot. In order to do astronomical viewing you really want the second number to be 50 or higher. I recommend 7X50 or 10X 50
The Canon image stabilization binocs are great, I’ve played with them a little. But they’re also a thousand dollars—at least the astronomical pair I looked at.
@gailcalled Just got in from an imaging session of Saturn. It’s a crappy little picture, but it’s MY crappy little picture!
@Qingu In answer to your question, at the North Pole I think Jupiter would be below the horizon since the ecliptic is below the equator in summer at night.
Stellarium is an open-source planetarium software that lets you plug in your coordinates.
At the North Pole in June, Jupiter wobbles above and below the horizon as it goes around.
@Rarebear: You’re right about the thrill of doing-it-yourself. Congratulations on your picture of
Saturn. And no, I am not into astrophotography.
Since this is a hobby you love, why not give up something else and treat yourself to really wonderful and suitable binoculars? $1000 amortized over a year is less than one latte daily at Starbucks. Or amortized over a day, less than a plane ticket to Paris.
Hold the phones; The Leica Ultravid 8×50 costs $2199 and weights 2.2 lbs…heavy for me and a wee bit pricey.
I’d need my own private bearer to use 10 X 50’s.
@Nullo; Thanks for the info. I tried your site that you mentioned earlier. and had trouble zeroing in on the right data.
@gailcalled I’m not treating myself to a $1000 pair of binoculars because I already have $7000 worth of telescope equipment. Also, I use binoculars really only for spotting where things are—then I go to the telescope.
@Rarebear: Fair enough.
I love my Nikon 8×35s. They also work well for birding.
We have had overcast skies for days. I am waiting for a clear one.
Actually, come to think of it, Jupiter won’t be visible at all at the North Pole in June, even if it were above the horizon, because it’s always daylight out.
@gailcalled I just am hearing about it today. I’m going to try.
@Rarebear: May I call you Rare? I was mistaken (a senior moment – that’s what comes from trusting my memory) about the double cluster I have been able to see. It’s in Perseus.
@gailcalled No worries, I knew what you meant. It’s one of my favorite targets.
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