This December, Jupiter shines brightly in the winter night sky, offering a unique opportunity to catch the King of the Planets at its best. On Saturday, December 7th, Jupiter reaches opposition, appearing high in the south and low in the east as it orbits around our planet.
When Jupiter is in opposition, it sits directly opposite the Sun from Earth’s perspective, making it visible all evening long. This alignment also means that Jupiter rises in the east at sunset and sets to the west. The closest approach of 611 million kilometers occurs on December 6th, marking a special astronomical event for sky watchers.
At this time, Jupiter appears as a -2.8 magnitude ‘star’ in the constellation Taurus the Bull, dominating the winter night scene for northern hemisphere observers. With its unique rotation period of just 10 hours, you can witness one full rotation of the gas giant in a single night.
Telescopic observations reveal stunning details, including the four major moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) that cast shadows nearly straight back. The fast rotation also means spotting the Great Red Spot is possible with patience, while low-power views reveal equatorial belts and moon transits.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness Jupiter at opposition in 2024, despite braving the cold. With its brightness, you can even observe the planet casting a shadow on freshly fallen snow.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/169949/catch-jupiter-at-opposition-2024-this-coming-weekend