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Credit & Copyright: Alessandro
Bianconi
Explanation:
On December 3 (UT), Jupiter,
the
solar system's largest planet, will be at opposition,
opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky,
shining brightly and rising as the Sun sets.
That
configuration results in Jupiter's almost annual
closest approach to planet Earth.
So, near opposition the gas giant offers earthbound telescopes
stunning views of its stormy, banded atmosphere and large
Galilean moons.
For example, this sharp series was recorded on the night of November
16/17 from the island of Sardinia near Dolianova, Italy.
North is up in the images that show off Jupiter's
famous Great Red Spot, and planet girdling
dark belts and light zones.
Also seen in transit is Jupiter's
volcanic moon Io, its
round, dark shadow tracking across the
Jovian cloud tops
as the sequence progresses left to right.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Jupiter - Io
Publications with words: Jupiter - Io
See also:
- APOD: 2026 January 20 Á Io in True Color
- APOD: 2026 January 18 Á Jupiter from the Webb Space Telescope
- APOD: 2026 January 6 Á Jupiters Clouds in High Definition from Juno
- APOD: 2025 November 11 Á Jupiter in Ultraviolet from Hubble
- APOD: 2025 December 14 Á Juno Flyby of Ganymede and Jupiter
- APOD: 2025 May 25 Á Beneath Jupiter
- Painting with Jupiter