The giant planet Jupiter reaches its closest approach to the Earth in 2026 this week. It is extremely well placed for observation and so bright that it is impossible to miss.
Jupiter – the largest planet in the solar system – will be unmistakable in Gemini, the twins, forming a lopsided triangle with the constellation’s two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. Its diameter is more than 11 times that of the Earth, and its cloud decks are highly reflective, making it the brightest planet in the night sky apart from Venus, despite it being so much further away. It will be visible from northern and southern hemispheres.
