Head To The Darkest Spot In Nebraska To See Jupiter And Its Moons This Month
By Delana Lefevers|Published June 09, 2019
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
Nebraska is a stargazer’s paradise. There are lots of open, dark places far from the city lights that make it impossible to see the stars in most places. This month, we’ll get to see a very special sight: Jupiter and its four brightest moons will be brighter and clearer in the sky than usual.
Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun, is often visible with the naked eye. But this month it will be so close to Earth that you can use a small telescope or binoculars to see its distinctive cloud bands and four of its moons.
The very best viewing time will be on June 10th; this is the night when Jupiter reaches opposition. In layman's terms, that means that Earth, the moon, and Jupiter are positioned in a straight line with Earth in the middle.
However, the planet should be visible all month long. Unlike a lot of other exciting celestial events, you won't have to wake up in the middle of the night to catch this show. You'll be able to spot Jupiter from dusk to dawn.
If you're looking for the perfect Jupiter-gazing spot, head out to Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine. It's one of the most remote places in the state and has been named a "dark sky site," a designation that means it has minimal light pollution and ideal celestial observation conditions.
Even if you can't make it out to the Sandhills to visit the Merritt viewing site, there are plenty of other places to experience the majestic view. Just get as far as you can from city lights and avoid using your phone (or any other light source) so your eyes can adjust to the dark. This will allow you to see objects in the sky much more clearly.
Serious star-watchers can bring along their high-powered telescopes, but you'll be able to see Jupiter just fine with less expensive options. Grab a pair of binoculars or a cheap telescope and you'll feel like you're so close to Jupiter you could almost touch it.
