Monthly Night Sky information provided by Chris Vaughan (@Astrogeoguy) at Starry Night Education (@StarryNightEdu).

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Jupiter Completes a Retrograde Loop (all night)

February 3 @ 8:00 pm - February 4 @ 5:00 am

Jupiter Completes a Retrograde Loop

On Monday, February 3, the very bright planet Jupiter will temporarily cease its motion (dotted line) through the background stars of central Taurus – marking the end of a westward retrograde loop that it began in early October. The planet will be gleaming high in the southern sky every evening. After tonight, Jupiter will resume its regular eastward motion and travel between the horns Taurus. Retrograde loops occur when Earth, on a faster orbit closer to the sun, passes more distant solar system objects “on the inside track”, making them appear to move backwards across the stars for a period of time. Jupiter’s loop covered about a fist’s diameter, or 10 degrees, of the ecliptic.

Details

Start:
February 3 @ 8:00 pm
End:
February 4 @ 5:00 am
Event Category:
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