April 27, 2024, 11:20 pm

Solar Conjunction: NASA, Sun, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced today that a conjunction between the Sun and Jupiter will occur on March 8, 2023, at 10:18 a.m. PST. This conjunction, also known as a solar conjunction, occurs when two celestial objects appear close together in the sky as viewed from Earth.

During this solar conjunction, Jupiter will be located directly behind the Sun. This means that Jupiter will not be visible from Earth during this time. The conjunction will be visible from all parts of the world, but it will be best seen from the western hemisphere.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be tracking the conjunction using its Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN is a network of large radio antennas located in California, Spain, and Australia. The DSN will be used to track Jupiter's position and to monitor its radio emissions during the conjunction.

The solar conjunction will be a unique opportunity to study Jupiter's atmosphere and magnetic field. The DSN will be able to detect radio emissions from Jupiter that are not normally visible from Earth. These emissions can be used to study the structure and composition of Jupiter's atmosphere and magnetic field.

The solar conjunction is also a good time to look for comets and asteroids. Comets and asteroids are small bodies of ice and rock that orbit the Sun. During a solar conjunction, these objects can be difficult to see because they are hidden by the Sun's glare. However, if you have a telescope, you may be able to spot a comet or asteroid during the conjunction.

The solar conjunction is a fascinating astronomical event that occurs only once every few years. The next solar conjunction between the Sun and Jupiter will occur on March 12, 2025.