Jupiter passed "in opposition" to the Earth on Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning our planet fell between the sun and the solar system's largest planet, and on Thursday Jupiter will be at its closest point to Earth for 2018 – just 409 million miles.
The phenomenon puts Jupiter opposite of the sun in our sky, with the gassy planet rising in the East as the sun sets in the western horizon, EarthSky.org reported.
Because Jupiter's orbit around the sun is elliptical, not circular, its closest approach to Earth comes after its opposition. Astronomers can see Jupiter at its brightest this week because of the activity, EartSky noted.
"It also means that Jupiter will be visible all night long, rising in the East around sunset and setting to the West around sunrise," said AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada. "No telescope is needed to view Jupiter as it is one of the brightest natural objects in the night sky, standing out among the sea of countless stars."
However, Space.com pointed that with a small telescope sky watchers will also be able to see four of Jupiter's largest moons – Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io. The moons will look like tiny, bright dots that change position every few hours or days.
AccuWeather said two other planets will fly in opposition to the Earth in coming months.
Saturn will reach opposition on June 27. Even though Saturn is almost twice as far away from Earth as Jupiter, viewers will still be able to see it with the naked eye.
The following month Mars will reach the same position, as the Red Planet makes its closest approach to Earth since 2003.
NASA said its spacecraft Juno, which has been taking close-up pictures of Jupiter, is helping scientists understand the gassy giant and answer questions about its makeup, its intense magnetic field, and if it has water.
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