Jupiter will rise opposite the sun this weekend, appearing brighter and larger in our sky. This opposition occurs when a planet lies directly opposite the sun from Earth’s perspective. On Saturday (Dec. 7), at 3:50 p.m. EDT, Jupiter reaches opposition, offering the best viewing opportunity of the gas giant in 2024.
In the constellation Taurus, Jupiter will be visible in the east as sunset occurs and remains in view for most of the night. It will reach its highest point around midnight local time. For a closer look, beginners can use the Celestron NexStar 4SE telescope, which provides quality and reliable views of celestial objects.
Jupiter is also at its closest approach to Earth this weekend, with perigee coinciding with opposition. This alignment occurs because Jupiter lies on the same side of the sun as Earth. On Friday (Dec. 6), at 6 a.m. EDT, Jupiter will be just 380 million miles away from our planet, appearing at its brightest and largest.
Despite being relatively close to Earth, Jupiter won’t be visible with the naked eye but can be spotted with binoculars. A good pair of binoculars will help reveal a bright disk and system of Galilean moons.
Source: https://www.space.com/stargazing/see-jupiter-at-its-biggest-and-brightest-this-weekend