Jupiter approached the Earth at the closest distance in a year

This week, Jupiter made his closest approach to Earth in 2018. The giant planet rises in the east at sunset and all the night shines brighter than all the stars of the sky. Paul Martini made this photo in Bluff, Utah.
In the Valley of the Gods, located in the local National Park Bears Ears, there are sand sculptures created by the forces of wind and rain. One of them is shown in the picture. “I captured Jupiter behind one of these nature creations, using a 15-second exposure at ISO 12800,” Martini said.
If you have a telescope, point it at Jupiter. Even with the help of inexpensive telescopes you can see the cloud stripes of the planet and its four large satellites. The exact date of the nearest approach is May 10, but every night this week is an excellent time for watching the gas giant.