Don't Miss the Opportunity to See Jupiter Shine Its Brighest in Almost 60 Years

On Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, skywatchers will get a rare chance to observe the solar system's largest planet like never before. That's because Jupiter will be at its closest to Earth—about 367 million miles (591 million kilometers) away—while also reaching opposition.

This extraordinary event will make the gas giant appear as the largest and brightest it has been in the night sky since 1963. While Jupiter's opposition happens every 13 months, it is almost never perfectly aligned with its closest approach to Earth, known as perigee.

"The views will be spectacular for several days before and after Sept. 26," said Adam Kobelski, a research astrophysicist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in a press statement. "Take advantage of clear skies around this time to witness the event. Aside from the moon, Jupiter will be one of the brightest objects in the night sky."

What Does Planetary Opposition Mean?

Not only will Jupiter be at perigee during this event, but it will also be at opposition. But what exactly does that entail?

The eight planets in our solar system orbit the sun in concentric paths, with the sun at the center. For example, Mercury has a much shorter distance to travel compared to Earth, and Earth travels a shorter path than Saturn. None of the planets cover the vast distance that Neptune does.

Planetary opposition occurs when a planet's orbit positions it between the sun and another planet. The Planetary Society defines opposition as "when the planet is directly opposite the sun in the sky." This means that when a planet is at opposition — like Jupiter in this case — it is 180 degrees away from the sun.

As the sun sets in the west, during a planetary opposition, turn to the east to watch Jupiter rise in the night sky. Isn’t it fascinating? Planetary oppositions occur roughly once a year between Earth and planets beyond its orbit — including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Earth and its neighbor Mars have nearly identical orbital speeds, meaning Earth overtakes Mars every 27 months in a planetary opposition. Also, since Mercury and Venus are positioned between the Earth and the sun, Earth can never be in opposition to them.

When and How to Observe a Planet at Opposition

Planetary opposition is a key event for astronomers and stargazers alike, offering a prime opportunity to observe our neighboring planets. During opposition, planets appear brighter and larger in the night sky, making them more visible. Jupiter, for instance, can be spotted with the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope provide a clearer and more detailed view, especially when observing from a location with minimal light pollution.

Jupiter is not the only planet visible at opposition this year. There are other celestial events to look forward to during the remainder of the 2022 calendar year, showcasing the spectacular sight of planetary opposition.