When Jupiter is at its farthest distance of 601 million miles, light from its surface takes 54 minutes to reach us. During its closest approach, that time reduces to about 34 minutes.

Jupiter reaches perihelion once every 12 Earth years, which is one reason so many years have passed since it was this close to Earth. Perihelion will occur in January.

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to ...

Jupiter will make its closest path to the Earth and will shine its brightest on Dec. 7. This aerial display occurs when Earth positions itself between the Sun and Jupiter. There are a few options ...

Jupiter will make its closest path to the Earth and will shine its brightest on Dec. 7. This aerial display occurs when Earth positions itself between the Sun and Jupiter.

Sunset near 1759 EST. Jupiter and Venus conjunction this evening, very lovely, a dazzling pair in the sky by 1820 EST. Stellarium angle measure showed 32 arcminutes apart.

Jupiter and Mars are about to get up close and personal to one another. Look up to the sky early Wednesday morning and you'll see what astronomers call a planetary conjunction. This is what is ...

The closest in the past 1,000 years was in 1761, when Mars and Jupiter appeared to the naked eye as a single bright object, according to Giorgini. Looking ahead, the year 2348 will be almost as close.

Jupiter will make its closest path to the Earth and will shine its brightest on Dec. 7. This aerial display occurs when Earth positions itself between the Sun and Jupiter.

Jupiter will make its closest path to the Earth and will shine its brightest on Dec. 7. This aerial display occurs when Earth positions itself between the Sun and Jupiter.