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Astronomy Cast Episode 656

Smashing Asteroids for Science

Welcome to Astronomy Cast where we leave

a facts-based journey through the cosmos where we help you understand not only what we know but how we know what we know.

I'm Fraser Kane, the publisher of Universe today.

I've been a space and astronomy journalist for over 20 years.

With me is Dr. Pamela Gay, a senior scientist for the Planetary Science Institute and the Director of Cosmic Quest.

Hey Pamela, how you doing?

I am doing well. We have hit the month of October and all my Halloween decorations are going out and Jupiters are at opposition.

These things have nothing to do with each other but both bring me joy.

Have you seen Jupiters?

Of course, yeah, hard to miss.

We got out the binoculars half the telescope, the seeing part but not the holding part which made the whole process worthless.

So I need to go and find a tripod and get it all set up.

But yeah, it looks amazing.

It's just in the binoculars. There's the moons, bands on the cross the planet, you can see it in just my astronomical binoculars.

It's such a good time.

This is the closest Jupiters has been in 60-ish years and closest is going to be for decades more.

If you haven't already, now is the time.

It's going to be this closest event has already happened but still it's a slow moving, closest opposition.

So if you can, big borrower steel, some way to be able to see Jupiters with your own eyeballs.

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