Astronomical Events Information | 2016 | March
A Chance to Observe Jupiter
Let’s Observe Jupiter and the Spring 1st Magnitude Stars!
The chance to observe Jupiter, which reaches opposition on the 8th, continues this month. Jupiter rises in the eastern sky about the time the Sun sets; it passes the meridian around midnight and sets in the west a little before sunrise.
Jupiter appears between the 1st magnitude star Regulus, in the constellation Leo, and the 1st magnitude star Spica, in the constellation Virgo. Jupiter is located closer to Regulus than Spica.
Compared to 1.3 magnitude Regulus and 1.0 magnitude Spica, -2.5 magnitude Jupiter shines particularly brightly.
On the 22nd, the bright, almost-full Moon appears close to Jupiter. Please enjoy bright Jupiter which won’t be outdone by the moonlight.
Source: Ephemeris Computation Office, NAOJ
You can look up the rising and setting times for the Sun and the Moon, and the phases of the Moon in the “Koyomi Station” of the NAOJ Ephemeris Computation Office.You can find the appearance of the Moon and planets as seen from a typical city under “Sky Viewer.”