On February 11, 2027, Jupiter reaches opposition at magnitude -2.6. It rises at sunset and is up all night. Even steadied binoculars show the four Galilean moons as a tiny line of stars.
Near opposition, Jupiter is bright and visible for most of the night. Binoculars can show the four Galilean moons, while a small telescope can reveal the cloud belts, transits, shadows, and the Great Red Spot.
Visual magnitude (lower = brighter), computed daily. The gold dot marks the peak.
Equatorial disc diameter in arcseconds. Telescope views are best in the weeks around the peak.
| Month | Magnitude | Disc | Distance | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | -1.9 | 34.1″ | 5.78 AU | Leo |
| Nov 2026 | -2.0 | 35.9″ | 5.49 AU | Leo |
| Dec 2026 | -2.2 | 39.2″ | 5.03 AU | Leo |
| Jan 2027 | -2.4 | 42.8″ | 4.60 AU | Leo |
| Feb 2027 | -2.5 | 45.1″ | 4.37 AU | Leo |
| Mar 2027 | -2.5 | 44.6″ | 4.42 AU | Leo |
| Apr 2027 | -2.3 | 41.8″ | 4.72 AU | Cnc |
| May 2027 | -2.1 | 38.2″ | 5.16 AU | Cnc |
| Jun 2027 | -1.9 | 34.9″ | 5.64 AU | Leo |
Space Time is a free 3D universe explorer in your browser. Jump to opposition night and watch Jupiter at its real position and brightness, or generate the full ephemeris table yourself and export it as CSV. Open the simulation.