Jupiter's magnificent swirling clouds

Captured in this image from NASA's Juno spacecraft, here we see a multitude of magnificent, swirling clouds in Jupiter's dynamic North North Temperate Belt. (Image credit: Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran/NASA)

Skywatchers will be able to see the largest planet in the solar system during an event known as opposition.

Earth and the sun are on the same side of the star as Jupiter rises from the east. Jupiter is the closest gas giant to our planet in over 50 years.

When the sun sets and disappears when the sun rises, the planet will be visible for most of the night. You can watch a live stream of Jupiter at opposition. Thanks to the Virtual Telescope Project, there is an hour left in the day.

NASA says that Jupiter is close to Earth in 59 years.

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September 26 - Jupiter at Opposition

An illustration of the night sky on Sept. 26 showing Jupiter at opposition.  (Image credit: Starry Night Software)

Jupiter will be visible from New York between 7 and 8 pm. On September 26 and 27 there will be an hour and a half of Daylight Saving Time. On Tuesday, September 27th. At 12:51 a.m., the planet will appear from 7 degrees above the eastern horizon to 49 degrees above the southern horizon. Skywatchers in New York City can learn how to view the planet from there.

The best place to see Jupiter in opposition is from a dark and dry area with high elevation. The gas giant and some of its larger moons can be seen with good binoculars. The planet's 'Great Red Spot' is a storm so wide it could swallow two Earths side by side.

Jupiter and its four planet-size moons, called the Galilean satellites, were photographed in 1998 by Voyager 1 and assembled into this collage.

Jupiter and its four planet-size moons, called the Galilean satellites, were photographed in 1998 by Voyager 1 and assembled into this collage. (Image credit: NASA/JPL)

Despite being on the same time scales, Jupiter's opposition and perigee rarely coincide, making this a rare opportunity to view the massive planet. Jupiter is larger and brighter in the sky at certain times of the year.

When Earth is around the sun, it makes its closest approach to Jupiter once every 12 months.

The greatest distance between our planet and Jupiter is around 600 million miles.

Jupiter is five times the distance between the Earth and the star as compared to the sun. Jupiter will only have a small effect on its size in the night sky because it is so far away.

If you don't see Jupiter at opposition this year, you'll be able to see it on Nov 3, 2023.

We have guides for the best binoculars and telescopes to help you find Jupiter and other stars. If you want to take the best Jupiter pictures, you need to check out our recommendations for the best cameras andlenses.

It was originally published on Space.com