Astronomy Open House at Penn State Behrend: The Opposition of Jupiter September 22, 2010

The School of Science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will observe the annual opposition of Jupiter with an Open House Night in Astronomy on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Darren Williams, associate professor of physics and astronomy, will give a lecture on the opposition beginning at 8 p.m. in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building, followed by astronomical observing from Mehalso Observatory from 9 to 10:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Oppositions of Jupiter—when Earth laps Jupiter in its orbit around the sun—occur approximately once a year. “This is also the time when Jupiter is nearest the Earth and appears the brightest to observers,” Williams says. “Jupiter is spectacular at any time of year, but opposition accentuates the detail that can be seen through a telescope. We can expect to see the familiar bands in the planet’s atmosphere, as well as the four bright moons that Galileo Galilei sketched more than 400 years ago.”

Both events are free and open to the public. Open House Nights in Astronomy are an outreach service of the School of Science and intended for a non-technical audience ages 8 and older. For additional information, phone the School at 814-898-6105.