Jupiter Shines Brightest This Weekend: Don't Miss the 'Christmas Star'

Jupiter will be at its brightest and most visible from Earth on December 7, 2024, during its opposition, when Earth is directly between the sun and Jupiter. This event, occurring once every 13 months, offers the best opportunity to observe Jupiter with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. The planet will be visible all night, rising in the southeast and setting in the west, and will be closest to Earth until 2026. Observers can see Jupiter's moons and cloud bands, and possibly its Great Red Spot, with the aid of a telescope.