Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. Its diameter is around 11 times that of Earth and it can hold 1,321 Earth volumes inside it.

However, it is much less dense, since a large percentage of it is gas. In fact, what we see when we look at Jupiter is not its solid surface, but its gaseous atmosphere.

After going around the sun (as seen from the Earth) in its 12-year orbit, Jupiter has now reappeared in the evening sky, rising at around 10pm.

One will easily find it by looking towards the East as it appears as the brightest point of light in the constellation Taurus.

To the naked eye, it will appear simply as a bright ‘star’. However, through the telescope, Jupiter reveals its true beauty.

Swirling masses of coloured clouds dance in the atmosphere as the planet rotates around itself twice every day.

This month’s image was shot on September 20 by Christopher Go from Cebu, The Philippines, using a telescope with a mirror having a diameter of 355mm.

Clearly visible in its dynamic atmosphere is the Great Red Spot, first seen by the English scientist Robert Hooke in 1664.

Three times larger than Earth, the red spot is a huge anticyclone which has been moving across the surface of the planet while at times becoming lighter and practically invisible.

Watch Jupiter over the coming weeks to see it rise even earlier and increase in brightness until its close approach with Earth on December 3.

For up-to-date information, visit www.maltastro.org.

Alexei Pace is president of the Astronomical Society of Malta.

Astronomical events this month

Date Event
October 8 Last quarter Moon
October 12 The Moon near the planet Venus (morning sky)
October 15 New Moon
October 18 The Moon near the planet Mars (evening sky)
October 19 Astronomy from the southern skies – talk by Joe Cauchi (e-mail: info@maltastro.org).
October 21 Maximum of the Orionid meteor shower
October 22 First quarter Moon
October 29 Full Moon

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