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Jupiter will be at its opposition this weekend, making it seem as immense and radiant as it ever appears from Earth.(Image credit: Getty Images/Peter Edwards)ShareShare by:
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This weekend offers a great chance to witness the solar system’s largest planet shining at its most brilliant all year.
Having commanded the evening sky for over a month, Jupiter will arrive at opposition this Saturday (Jan. 10). This signifies the moment when the Earth lies squarely between Jupiter and the sun, positioning the gaseous giant opposite our star in Earth’s sky. The outcome is a vivid, unmistakable point of light in the eastern night sky that gleams throughout the night. At a magnitude of -2.7, Jupiter will outshine every star for several weeks.
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Appearing in the Gemini constellation close to the vivid stars Pollux and Castor, Jupiter’s opposition provides the optimal period to observe the colossal planet as it ascends at nightfall, reaches its peak elevation at about midnight, and recedes at daybreak. It represents an exceptional chance for both beginner and seasoned stargazers to gain a remarkable sighting of the “king of the planets.”
How to see Jupiter and its moons
To admire Jupiter’s prominence during the night, nothing more than a cloudless sky is required. Nonetheless, even an average set of binoculars (8×42 or 10×50) will present Jupiter as exceeding a mere bright point; you’ll note a small, stable orb and the planet’s quartet of largest satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Distinguished as the Galilean moons, they manifest as minute specks of light arranged next to the planet, altering positions nightly.
Through a modest telescope, the sight intensifies further. Employ a low-powered eyepiece to position Jupiter centrally within your scope, followed by a shift to greater magnification. Two or more shadowy cloud belts should be observable traversing the planet’s disk — indications of Jupiter’s robust jet streams. Given stable atmospheric conditions, the celebrated Great Red Spot — an enormous tempest that has persisted on Jupiter for nearly 190 years — may also become visible in the planet’s southern region.
While Jupiter dominates attention, Saturn also emerges in the early evening skies, suspended lower in the southwest following sundown. Though dimmer, its renowned rings remain detectable with a telescope — a delight for any observer.
Jupiter will maintain a favorable positioning for nighttime viewing throughout January and into February. It provides an excellent window to observe it under dark skies, before it slowly drifts westward over the ensuing months.
Jupiter won’t vanish following opposition. On June 9, it will produce a captivating triple conjunction alongside Venus and Mercury during twilight. Subsequently, on Nov. 15, it converges with Mars in a remarkable close conjunction shortly before sunrise.
The subsequent opposition of Jupiter will transpire on Feb. 6, 2027.
TOPICSSolar System
Jamie CarterSocial Links NavigationLive Science contributor
Jamie Carter works as a freelance writer and frequently contributes to Live Science from Cardiff, U.K. He authored A Stargazing Program For Beginners and presents lectures on astronomy and the natural world. Jamie regularly contributes articles to Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine, and Scientific American, among others. He is the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com.
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