Look to the east after dark this week, and you’ll see a dazzlingly bright “star” in the evening sky. Is it the legendary Christmas Star? It’s Jupiter at opposition, an annual astronomical event in which the giant planet shines at its brightest and appears at its largest.
Now shining at magnitude -2.8, rivaling the brightest stars, opposition sees Jupiter positioned directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth.
When Is Jupiter In Opposition?
Jupiter will align with the sun and the Earth On Dec. 7, 2024, but it’s got more to do with Earth than Jupiter.
On its much faster orbit of the sun, Earth undertakes Jupiter – on its 12 Earth-year orbit – and slips between the sun and the giant planet.
Why Jupiter Looks Like A ‘Christmas Star’
Was a bright planet the origin of the story of the “Christmas Star?” Arguably, Jupiter after sunset makes the best argument in December 2024, though very bright in the west after dark — opposite Jupiter — is the even brighter planet Venus. However, it’s lower in the sky and sinking at sunset, while Jupiter is rising, so it is more noticeable for longer.
Venus will reach its brightest in the evening sky, shining at a brilliant magnitude of -4.5. It’s the turn of Mars — currently rising below Jupiter a few hours after sunset and shining at magnitude -1.4 — to reach opposition on Jan. 16, 2025.
How To See Jupiter In The Night Sky
Shining in the constellation of Taurus in the east, as soon as it gets dark, you’ll see red supergiant star Aldebaran — the “eye of the bull” — shining to Jupiter’s right with the Pleiades open cluster just above.
With a pair of binoculars, you’ll see Jupiter’s four largest moons. With a small telescope, you’ll see its cloud belts and significant storms, such as its Great Red Spot.
Why Jupiter Shines So Brightly
During its annual oppositions, Jupiter and Earth get as close as ever, at 380 million miles (612 million kilometers).
That’s not the only reason why Jupiter is at its brightest. The alignment also means we see 100% of Jupiter’s disk, which rises in the east at sunset and sets in the west at sunrise.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.