Jupiter at opposition

Sunday 5th Jan 201421:01

Jupiter will be well placed for observation, lying in the constellation Gemini, far above the horizon for much of the night.

Regardless of your location on the Earth, Jupiter will reach its highest point in the sky at around midnight local time.

This optimal positioning occurs when Jupiter makes its closest approach to the point directly opposite to the Sun in the sky – an event termed opposition, the exact moment of which will be 21:01 GMT. Since the Sun reaches its greatest distance below the horizon at midnight, the point opposite to it is highest in the sky at the same time.