JUPITER REACHES OPPOSITION - 09-10/01/2026 💖✨️

This evening into tomorrow morning, stargazers will be treated to a special astronomical event. Early tomorrow morning (10/01/2026) the amazing gas giant planet Jupiter will reach a position in relation to the Sun and Earth known as “Opposition”.

“What does this mean?” we hear you say. When a planet reaches opposition this means it is one the best times of the year to observe that planet.

When a planet reaches opposition, this means that the planet is in alignment with the Sun and Earth, with the planet on the opposite side of the Earth compared to the sun. During this time, the planet can appear larger and brighter than at any other time of year.

Jupiter will be shining at an impressive magnitude of -2.68 and will reach a peak altitude of around 57 degrees at its highest point in the sky. Whilst Jupiter has been a prominent feature of our nighttime skies for a while now, it will appear even more impressive at opposition.

Jupiter can be found in the constellation of Gemini the twins, very close by to the bright stars Pollux and Castor (the heads of the twins of Gemini).

The exact time Jupiter will reach opposition will be at roughly 08:40 GMT on the morning of the 10th of January, however Jupiter will be below the horizon in daylight at this point in time.

This means the best time to observe Jupiter will be earlier in the morning, possibly just after midnight when planet Jupiter will appear higher in the sky.

Jupiter will appear in our skies during the early evening twilight on the evening of the 9th of January, not too long after it will have risen above the horizon during daylight towards the North-East at around 16:15 GMT. Jupiter will become easier to spot as the skies become darker and as the planet climbs higher in the sky travelling towards the South where it will reach its highest elevation of 57 degrees high at roughly 00:15 on the morning of the 10th of January. Following this, the amazing gas giant will then begin to descend travelling towards the North-West where it will set at roughly 08:33.

Don't worry if you don't get to see Jupiter tonight, the amazing gas giant will appear at its best for a while to come.

You don’t need any special equipment to view this opposition, however if you own a pair of binoculars or a telescope you may be able to make out more detail.

When viewed by eye, Jupiter will appear as a bright star like object in the sky displaying a beautiful orangey/yellow hue.

When viewed with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope, Jupiter’s colour may become more apparent and you will be able to see the difference in colour of the planets weather bands.

If you catch Jupiter at the right time, with a telescope, under good seeing conditions, you may also be able to make out the planets most famous surface feature – the Great Red Spot!

- Wrap up warm! The long and dark nights of January can be particularly chilly, so make sure to dress warm if you’re heading out.

- You can tell the difference between stars and planets by seeing if they twinkle! Stars will appear to twinkle but planets shine with a consistent solid brightness.

- You don’t need to be anywhere particularly dark to view Jupiter because it will be very bright, however being in a dark location will allow you to see more of the other celestial delights in the night sky.

- If you are in a dark location, allow your eyes 15 – 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness without looking at any bright lights. This will allow you to see even more faint objects in the night sky. You may also wish to block the Moon from view to help your night vision. If you need to use a torch, use a torch that emits only red light. Red light interferes with your night vision much less than white light.

- You don’t need any special equipment to view this opposition, but a pair of binoculars or a telescope may allow you to see more detail.

If you would like to know more about the rest of the celestial treats that can be seen throughout January, please head to our YouTube channel to watch our Night Sky Guide video for January 2026.

The sight of Jupiter at opposition will be beautiful whether seen by eye, binoculars or telescope and Jupiter’s opposition will be an excellent opportunity to capture images of the amazing gas giant. If you can, we recommend heading out to witness the planet Jupiter at opposition!

Clear skies! 💖

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