Jupiter Sighting Confirmed From Earths Surface by NASA Astronomers
WHO: NASA astronomers at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
WHAT: Announced a confirmed visible sighting of the planet Jupiter from Earth’s surface without telescopic aid, achieved during a rare atmospheric clarity event.
WHEN: On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at approximately 8:42 PM Eastern Standard Time.
WHERE: Observed from a designated dark-sky observation site in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado.
WHY: The sighting, occurring when Jupiter was at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, was prompted by a sudden atmospheric stillness and low moon illumination, enabling the ancient planet to be seen as a persistent, silver-white point of light.