Space Time
Planet oppositions, 2026–2027
Around opposition, an outer planet is opposite the Sun in our sky and generally visible for much of the night. Compare the observing seasons below, computed from real ephemerides. Opposition, closest approach and peak brightness can occur on different dates.
Opposition dates and observing seasons
| Planet | Opposition | Peak mag | Disc | Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn | October 4, 2026 | 0.2 | 19.7″ | 8.43 AU | details → |
| Jupiter | February 11, 2027 | -2.6 | 45.2″ | 4.36 AU | details → |
| Mars | February 19, 2027 | -1.2 | 13.8″ | 0.68 AU | details → |
Why oppositions matter
Earth passes the outer planets on its inner orbit. Around opposition, their illuminated faces point toward us and they are near their closest approach. Their apparent sizes and viewing altitudes differ between apparitions. Good observing extends over weeks, not just one instant; check your local sky and weather.
Watch any of them in 3D
Space Time is a free 3D universe explorer in your browser. Jump the clock to any opposition and watch it happen, or graph the whole apparition with the built-in ephemeris generator and export the data as CSV. Open the app, or see where each planet sits on its orbit in the 3D solar system simulator. Also: eclipse guides and replays and the Moon phase calendar.