A rare celestial event will take place on December 7th, where Earth aligns itself between the Sun and Jupiter. This alignment, known as Jupiter’s opposition, will allow skywatchers to witness the gas giant visible all night long.
On December 6, at approximately 5 am IST, Jupiter will be 611 million kilometres away from Earth, making it shine brightest and providing an optimal viewing opportunity for telescope enthusiasts. The planet’s atmospheric belts and Galilean moons can be observed with a telescope as it rises in the east-northeast direction near the constellation Taurus.
The event promises a dazzling experience for stargazers across India, offering a chance to marvel at Jupiter’s intricate cloud bands and spot its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The alignment will take approximately 34 minutes for sunlight from Jupiter to reach Earth.
This ‘full’ Jupiter view is a result of Earth being momentarily between the Sun and Jupiter, allowing us to see the full disc of the planet at its closest distance of 380 million miles (612 million kilometres). Although opposition is specific, observing the planet using even a small telescope or binoculars can be done during a month before or after the event.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/science/earth-aligns-between-sun-and-jupiter-for-spectacular-december-7-event-7175802