Today is October 14, 2011, and features a most unusual astronomical occurrence: a double opposition involving both Venus and Jupiter. O, what does this all mean?
In astronomical terms, opposition is when a planet, as seen from earth, is directly opposite the Sun in the sky, which means that, as the Sun sets, the planet rises and, as the planet sets, the Sun rises as both bodies are 180 degrees apart in the sky. If one could look down on the solar system from above, one would see that the Sun, Earth, and planet are in a straight line. As for Jupiter, it will come to opposition on Friday, which means that it will be up all night that night.
However, on Friday, there's more.
The same time that Jupiter is opposite the Sun on the night side of the sky, Venus is directly opposite the Sun, too, only behind our nearest star, rendering the brightest planet in the solar system invisible. For the next couple of weeks, Venus will be lost in the Sun's glare, eventually reappearing toward month's end low in the sky just after sunset.
Completing the picture, looking down on the solar system, one would see Venus, the Sun, Earth, and Jupiter in a straight line on the 14th, a rare, double opposition day. So, come Friday, go out for a look at Jupiter but forget about Venus.
Now, since astronomy is a weather-allowing pursuit, be sure to keep an eye on the Cleveland weather forecast and, for hour-by-hour cloud predictions, the Cleveland Clear Sky Clock. The great news, because Jupiter is so bright (fourth brightest object in the sky), there is no need to run out of the Cleveland metro area's light pollution to see it. Live somewhere else? Find a clock and see if it will be clear near you.
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