Jupiter will outshine every star in the sky this weekend — how to see the 'king of planets' at opposition

Photo of Jupiter as seen through a telescope. A large white sphere with swirling rings of red and brown around it against a black background. .

This weekend brings a prime opportunity to see the biggest planet in the solar system shining at its brightest all year.

After dominating the night sky for more than a month, Jupiter will reach opposition this Saturday (Jan. 10). This marks the point when Earth lies directly between Jupiter and the sun, putting the gas giant opposite our star in Earth's sky. The result is a brilliant, unmissable light in the eastern evening sky that shines all night long. At magnitude -2.7, Jupiter will outshine every star for many weeks.