Jupiters closest approach

Post by **PaulH** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:53 pm

For you budding astronomers out there, Jupiter is about to make its closest approach to the Earth. Look east tonight after sunset, can't miss it. Its bloody huge!

As you all know, this is the largest planet in the solar system and because of this its gravitational pull can be faintly felt. This not only affects the tides, which will be much larger than usual, but its effects are so that objects on Earth will weigh about 2% less than normal. Step on your weighing scales at midnight!

beowuuf · Post by **beowuuf** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:57 pm

Don't you mean at 12 noon?

Post by **PaulH** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:00 pm

Yes, yes sorry. The US still has chance.

Post by **Zyx** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:24 pm

Yes, in the Virgo constellation.
Pure love will be greatly strenghtened this week. It's a good time for declaring your passion to the beloved one.

Post by **PaulH** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:27 pm

Excellent map. As you can see, the Moon is very close by too which is strengthening the effect. This is a rare solar coincidence.

Sera · Post by **Sera** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:46 pm

er, depends if the clouds ever move away, i hate this place -.-

Post by **PaulH** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:47 pm

It is a bit cloudy, but may brighten later. The funny gravity distort thing can be felt anytime. Just stick 1kg bag of sugar on some scales, it will only weigh 980g

Post by **Gambit37** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:10 am

I wondered why my pen kept rolling across the desk.

Post by **Paul Stevens** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:22 am

it will only weigh 980g

I wondered why it was so much easier to swim.

Post by **PaulH** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:38 pm

They had to cancel all of the weekends athletics events because it was calculated that top pole vaulters could vault an extra 9cm.

Jupiter moves away after the third, so normality will be returned...

Sera · Post by **Sera** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:04 pm

hehe, i did jump a few times yesterday, and i went much higher than i did just now o.o, must have been the effects

Post by **PaulH** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:54 pm

Surely the wings help?

Sera · Post by **Sera** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:45 pm

nope, they werent used =P