Jupiter will reach its opposition, marking its closest approach to Earth, in the early hours of January 10, 2025. This alignment positions Earth directly between the Sun and Jupiter, making the gas giant appear at its brightest and largest in the night sky.
Viewing Details
On the evening of January 9, Jupiter will be visible in the eastern sky at sunset, appearing as the brightest point of light until the waning crescent moon rises after midnight for U.S. viewers. The planet officially reaches opposition at 3:34 a.m. EST (0834 GMT) on January 10, shining at a magnitude of -2.7.
During this period, Jupiter will have an angular size of 45.6 arcseconds, noticeably larger than its minimum size of 31.3 arcseconds when furthest from Earth.
Where to Look
To observe Jupiter, look towards the eastern horizon at sunset on January 10. The planet will be situated within the constellation Gemini, with Orion the "hunter" to its right and the bright star Capella positioned above. Throughout the night, Jupiter will arc high overhead before setting on the western horizon as the sun rises on January 11.
Observing Through Telescopes
With the naked eye, Jupiter presents a dazzling sight. Viewing through a telescope with an aperture of 4 inches (152 mm) or more can reveal its colorful atmospheric cloud bands. On the night of January 10, its four large Galilean moons
—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—will also be visible, appearing in a linear formation extending from either side of the planet. Using an astronomy filter with a larger aperture telescope can reduce glare and enhance the contrast of Jupiter's stormy cloud tops.