Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet, is now visible as a bright “star” in the Gemini constellation, rising low in the east-northeast sky at dusk. It forms a striking triangle with the “Twin Stars,” Pollux and Castor, making it an easy target for stargazers.
On January 10, at 4 a.m. EST, Jupiter reaches opposition. This means it’s directly opposite the sun in the sky. Although Earth will be closest to Jupiter about 25 hours earlier, Jupiter still dazzles as it seems to loop back against the background stars. After this event, Jupiter will start moving away from the sun as well.
Did you know that Jupiter will hit its farthest point from the sun, known as aphelion, on December 28, 2028? That’s about 507 million miles away! Jupiter has nearly 2.5 times the mass of all the other planets combined. It takes almost 12 Earth years to orbit the sun, spending about a year in each zodiac constellation.
Jupiter is a giant ball of hydrogen and helium. Modern research suggests it has a “dilute” core rather than a solid one, which means heavy materials are mixed within a thick layer of metallic hydrogen. This finding is thanks to NASA’s Juno mission.
Interestingly, Jupiter is sometimes referred to as a “failed star.” It has the building blocks of a star—mostly hydrogen—but it lacks the necessary mass to ignite nuclear fusion. If it had been a bit larger, we might have had a binary star system!
Stargazers with binoculars can spot Jupiter as a small disc, while telescopes reveal stunning details like its fast-moving cloud bands and large storms. The planet spins rapidly, completing a rotation in less than 10 hours, creating an observable bulge at its equator. January is especially great for watching its features due to long nights.
One of the best things about Jupiter is its four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Even small telescopes can show these moons moving rapidly around the planet. To illustrate, on January 10, three of the satellites will cluster on one side, with one on the opposite side.
In the coming weeks, Jupiter will rise higher in the sky at night, becoming more accessible for evening observations. As we move toward the end of the month, it will dance alongside its stellar friends, Pollux and Castor, creating beautiful celestial displays.
In the last week of May, look for a crescent moon and Venus as they join Jupiter in the evening sky. This playful arrangement demonstrates the ongoing “dance” of these planets, a sight that has captivated humanity for centuries.
Jupiter’s journey will continue as it slips into the sun’s glare by August, emerging in the morning sky until it moves into the constellation of Cancer in late September. Mark your calendars for October 6, when Jupiter will experience an occultation, which means it will be obscured by the moon, a rare and thrilling sight for early risers in North America.
As we observe these astronomical events, it’s fascinating to remember that the planets have been integral to human culture throughout history. They have been seen as celestial deities and have inspired countless myths and stories.
For anyone interested in exploring further, Space.com offers a wealth of information on upcoming celestial events and Jupiter’s ongoing story.
