Jupiter, our solar system's largest planet, is easy to find because it is so bright in our night sky. Only Venus and the moon are brighter. Jupiter can be an awesome sight in a telescope because features in its atmosphere like its horizontal bands and the famous Great Red Spot are easily seen.
Jupiter has 95 moons and its four largest can be seen in telescopes and binoculars -- Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. From one night to the next, you can watch them change positions as they orbit the planet. On occasion, you may be able to watch a shadow of one of the moons transit Jupiter's surface -- a lunar eclipse.
The best time to view Jupiter is during an opposition when Earth is closest to Jupiter. Oppositions occur every 13.2 months. Because Jupiter moves so slowly in earth's sky -- about one constellation of the zodiac eastward each year -- once you learn its location it is easy to find year after year.
2024 Calendar
* Constellation: Aries (Jan 1), Taurus (Apr 28). Toggle the image to see how to find Jupiter.
* Best viewing time for the year: around opposition on Dec 7
* Worst viewing time: around superior conjunction on May 18
* Special: Aug 14 conjunction with Mars (only 18' apart)
* Best viewing time for each month (mid-month):
Jupiter (July, 2024) 
