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Welcome to the Astro Minute! I'm Lauren Smyth, and with the help of astronomer and teacher Kelli Smyth, I'll be your tour guide as we explore the secrets of the night sky sixty seconds at a time.
Welcome to the Astro Minute, where we’re exploring the universe sixty seconds at a time. I’m Lauren Smyth, and today we’re visiting a king.
Jupiter, “king of the planets,” is the largest planet in our solar system, big enough to hold thirteen hundred earths, and twice as massive as all the other planets combined. Its enormous gravity commands a royal court of asteroids, rings, and ninety-plus moons. This gas giant is the brightest object in our night sky after Venus and the moon.
Like all the planets, Jupiter is seen along the ecliptic, the line of the sun’s path across the sky. But also like the other planets, Jupiter is visible on an irregular schedule, so check online before going outside to see if it’s up. For a twenty-first century view of Galileo’s seventeenth century discovery, grab binoculars to see Jupiter’s four largest moons lined up in their orbits around this royal planet.
That’s your Astro Minute!