Can Jupiter ever been in the Big Dipper?

Question

Last minute Astro homework, and I'm stuck:
T/F "Last night I saw Jupiter right in the middle of the Big Dipper. (Hint: Is the Big Dipper part of the zodiac?)"

My thoughts exactly, Peter K. I don't know!

Answer 1

Look up "ecliptic" in your textbook. Now look up "circumpolar". Now look up "zodiac". That ought to be enough, but here's a bit more:
Jupiter is never more than a couple degrees from the ecliptic (why?). The Big Dipper's stars are circumpolar in most of the northern hemisphere. So where in the sky is the Big Dipper? Is it part of the zodiac? Is it anywhere near the ecliptic?

Answer 2

No, Jupiter cannot be seen in The Big Dipper. Jupiter stays close to the zodiac, the maximum declination reached in the northern hemisphere being about 23.5º at the winter solstice. The Big Dipper, which is actually part of the constellation Ursa Major (The Great Bear), does not come further south than about declination 51º. What I think has happened, is that you may be confusing the constellation Scorpio with The Big Dipper as they look much the same. Part of Scorpio (the head of the scorpion) does rest over the zodiac, and Jupiter is in that part of the sky now.

Answer 3

The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major, and no, it is not along the ecliptic. It is not one of the zodiac signs.
Since all the planets travel more or less along the ecliptic, none of the planets will ever appear in any constellations outside the zodiac.

Answer 4

The Big Dipper is high and in the north. Jupiter should be nearer the equator. So I don't think that they can intersect. But I'm not sure so you might like to check this.

Answer 5

The quick answer is NO.

The long winded answer is:

Only if you got into a spaceship and moved well below the south pole, below the plane of the orbits of the 9 planets around the sun.