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 92 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.
Look for a very bright, white orb on the ecliptic. To confirm, use binoculars or a telescope to see if the Galilean moons are present.
* Good evening viewing of Jupiter all month but it is low and getting lower each evening.
* Jupiter is in Sagittarius all month.
* Jupiter will be near Saturn in our sky all month. Look E for Saturn.
* December 21: Jupiter and Saturn will be only 6' apart. For comparison, the moon is 30' in size.
* December 16: look for Jupiter, Saturn and a Waxing Crescent Moon aligned in the evening.
Jupiter (December, 2020) 
