Why The ‘King Of The Planets’ Will Shine Super-Brightly From Dusk Till Dawn This Week – Forbes

Citizen scientist Kevin Gill’s fabulous new photo of Jupiter from Juno’s perijove 27.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
This Wednesday, Jupiter will be the brightest it gets in the whole of 2020, and shine for the longest. 
Jupiter is at opposition to the Sun on July 14, 2020, an occasion celebrated by amateur astronomers and planet-gazers each year because the planet will be well-positioned and shining brightly for the next few weeks and months. 
NASAs Juno spacecraft at Jupiter is currently sending back incredible images in a busy month for skywatching. Theres a bright naked-eye comet and plenty of other celestial highlights to find, as well as various rocket launches of missions to Mars to watch.
What is Jupiters opposition?
A planets opposition occurs when Earth passes between it and the Sun. As a consequence of that geometry, Jupiters disk will appear to be 100% illuminated as seen from Earth.
The planet will look at its brightest and best for all of 2020. 
MORE FROM FORBESNASA’s Spacecraft At Jupiter Just Sent Back Some Jaw-Dropping PhotosBy Jamie CarterWhen is Jupiters opposition?
However, in practical terms theres no need to wait until that one specific night; Jupiter is at its brightest from July 11 through July 16, 2020. During this period Jupiter will shine at its brightest of all of 2020, but never twinkle. 
Why is opposition so impressive? 
Opposition is a great time look at a planet because: 

• Its as bright as it gets all year. 
• Its up all night long, more or less rising at sunset and setting at sunrise. 
• You can watch a planet-rise in the east and/or a planet-set in the west. 

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The gas giant planet is currently moving through the constellation of Sagittarius, the Archer. To find it, wait an hour after sunset and look to the southeast. You should see it easily enough as a bright light just above the horizon. Within the hour youll also see Saturn appear to Jupiters lower-left. 
How to find Jupiters moons
Grab any pair of binoculars, or a small telescope, and youll be able to see some of its huge Galilean moons; Ganymede, Europa, Callisto and Io. Theyre an easy target.
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As Earth moves away from Jupiter on its orbit of the Sun, the gas giant will get slightly dimmer in the night sky. It will also rise earlier and earlier, eventually being visible in the western sky just after sunset, and itself setting soon after. That will be the case by late December, when Jupiter will get incredibly close to Saturn.
On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be in a great conjunction and appear to be less than 1º apart in the night sky. Thats so close that the two giant planets will appear to shine as one. 
Jupiter will next go into opposition on August 19, 2021.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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