Jupiter at closer distances
Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System and the most dramatic object to move inward, because its diameter is many times the Moon's. Its apparent size is calculated. A rotating oblate globe carries Cassini's observed cloud bands and Great Red Spot through fixed sunlight. Automatic time-lapse rotation reveals different longitudes.
- 139,820 km
- 9.9 hours
- planet
How big would Jupiter look if it replaced the Moon?
At 384,400 km, Jupiter spans 20.6° across your sky — about 40 times the width of the full Moon. Light crosses that gap in 1.3 seconds.
At the Moon's distance Jupiter fills a large part of the visible sky, and the belts are plainly banded.
How big would Jupiter look from two million kilometres?
At 2,000,000 km, Jupiter spans 4.0° across your sky — about 7.7 times the width of the full Moon. Light crosses that gap in 6.7 seconds.
The banding and storm systems separate clearly across a commanding disc.
How big would Jupiter look from ten million kilometres?
At 10,000,000 km, Jupiter spans 48.1′ across your sky — about 1.5 times the width of the full Moon. Light crosses that gap in 33.4 seconds.
The planet still has obvious width, with its strongest belts readable.
How big would Jupiter look from one hundred million kilometres?
At 100,000,000 km, Jupiter spans 4.8′ across your sky — about 0.15 times the width of the full Moon. Light crosses that gap in 5.6 minutes.
Jupiter has receded to a small, steady disc rather than a painted sphere.
How big does Jupiter look at its closest real approach?
At 3.9 AU, Jupiter spans 49.0″ across your sky — a small fraction of the width of the full Moon. Light crosses that gap in 32.7 minutes.
Jupiter is among the brightest points in the scene, and still only a point to an unaided eye.
What Perigee calculates and what it renders
The apparent size is calculated, but the light, colour and environmental treatment are an authored visualization. Perigee does not model heat, radiation, gravity or tides.
How Perigee calculates apparent size