Planet at opposition · 10 January 2026

Jupiter at opposition 2026

Jupiter sits opposite the Sun in the sky. It rises at sunset, is up all night and shines at its brightest; binoculars show its four big moons. It will be 632.7 million km from Earth.

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This opposition happened on 10 January 2026.

Next: Jupiter at opposition, 11 February 2027

OppositionSaturday 10 January 2026, 08:27 UTC

See it in 3D ↓

Opposition

08:27 UTC

10 January 2026

Distance

632.7 million km

4.23 AU

Brightness

Magnitude −2.7

visible to the eye

Size

46.6″

arcseconds across

Constellation

Gemini

where to find it

Closest to Earth

9 January 2026

632.6 million km

Where and when to look

Jupiter rises in the east as the Sun sets, climbs highest around midnight (1 am where clocks are on summer time) and sets in the west at sunrise, so it is up all night. Look for it in Gemini, brighter than any star in the night sky.

From	Jupiter at its highest
London	61°
New York	72°
Delhi	84°
São Paulo	44°
Sydney	34°

It stays well placed for weeks either side of opposition, rising a few minutes earlier each night.

Through binoculars and telescopes

Binoculars held steady show its four big moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, lined up beside it and changing places night to night. A small telescope shows the cloud belts on its 46.6 arcsecond disc, and the Great Red Spot with patience.

What is happening

The Earth, on its faster inside track, overtakes Jupiter and passes between it and the Sun. Jupiter then sits opposite the Sun in our sky, fully lit, and is about as close to us as it gets this time round: 632.7 million km away.

Jupiter comes round to opposition about every 13 months, a little later each year.

See it in 3D

Jupiter, rendered live from today's real positions by our 3D viewer. Press play to load it here, or open the full viewer to fly anywhere in the solar system.

Jupiter, rendered by the Our Solar System viewer

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Questions

When is Jupiter at opposition in 2026?

On 10 January 2026 at 08:27 UTC. It is closest to Earth on 9 January 2026.

How bright will Jupiter be?

About magnitude −2.7, brighter than any star in the night sky.

Where do I look for Jupiter?

In Gemini: low in the east at dusk, high in the south around midnight from the Northern Hemisphere (in the north from the Southern Hemisphere), and in the west by dawn.

Can I see Jupiter without a telescope?

Yes. It is brighter than any star in the night sky.

When is the next Jupiter opposition?

11 February 2027, when it will be 652.1 million km away.