Tonight, January 9, 2026, and through the early hours of tomorrow morning, the king of the planets, Jupiter, reaches its peak brilliance. This celestial event, known as opposition, is the single best time of the year (and in this case, the best in several years) to view the gas giant.
Whether you are a seasoned astronomer or just someone looking up from your backyard, here is everything you need to know about Jupiter’s big night.
What is the "Opposition of Jupiter"?
Opposition occurs when Earth passes directly between the Sun and an outer planet. In this geometry, Jupiter is exactly 180° opposite the Sun in our sky.
This alignment creates three perfect conditions for stargazers:
Maximum Brightness: Jupiter's entire disk is fully illuminated by the Sun, making it shine at a staggering magnitude of -2.7. It will be the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon.
Closest Approach: Known as perigee, Jupiter is at its closest point to Earth for the year—approximately 393 million miles (633 million km) away.
All-Night Visibility: Jupiter will rise in the east exactly as the Sun sets in the west, remain visible all night long, and set at dawn.
Where and When to Look
Jupiter is currently situated in the constellation Gemini, forming a bright triangle with the "Twin" stars, Castor and Pollux.
The Best Time: While Jupiter is visible all night, it reaches its highest point in the sky (the "meridian") around midnight local time. This is when you are looking through the least amount of Earth’s atmosphere, providing the steadiest and clearest views.
Northern Hemisphere Advantage: In 2026, Jupiter is positioned very high in the northern sky. This is its northernmost opposition until 2036, meaning viewers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia will see it soaring nearly overhead, far above the hazy horizon.
What You Will See (Equipment Guide)
1. Naked Eye
You don't need any equipment to enjoy the show. Jupiter will look like an incredibly bright, steady, silvery-white "star." Unlike true stars, planets generally do not twinkle because they appear as tiny disks rather than points of light.
2. Binoculars
A standard pair of 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars will transform the "star" into a tiny, cream-colored pearl. Most impressively, you will be able to see up to four pinpricks of light nearby. These are the Galilean Moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
3. Backyard Telescope
If you have a telescope, tonight is the night to dust it off. Even a small 4-inch telescope will reveal:
Atmospheric Belts: The dark reddish-brown bands of clouds across Jupiter's "surface."
The Great Red Spot: A massive storm larger than Earth. (Note: Check a transit app to see if it is rotated toward Earth during your viewing time).
Shadow Transits: Because of the perfect alignment, the moons will pass directly in front of their own shadows on the planet's cloud tops.
Pro Tip: Look for the moon Callisto transiting Jupiter's disk during the early morning of January 10 (around 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM EST). Because it is exactly at opposition, Callisto will nearly overlap its own shadow, a rare and subtle sight for experienced observers.
Why 2026 is a "Skip Year" Success
You may have noticed there was no Jupiter opposition in 2025. Because Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the Sun and Earth is also moving, the two planets only line up roughly every 13 months. This makes the 2026 opposition particularly anticipated, as it is the first since December 2024.
Would you like me to find the specific times the Great Red Spot will be visible from your city tonight?
This video provides a quick visual summary of the orbital mechanics and what to look for during the January 2026 opposition.