Every 13 months, Earth and Jupiter have a close encounter. Astronomers call it an "opposition" because Jupiter is opposite the Sun in the sky. Our solar system’s largest gas planet rises in the east at sunset, and soars overhead at midnight, shining brighter than any star in the night sky.
This year's opposition of Jupiter occurs on Feb. 6th. It isn't an ordinary close encounter with Earth (approximately 640 million kilometers), but in Feb. 2015, Jupiter is edge on to the Sun.
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Xeni Jardin
You don't have to be an experienced astronomer to experience Jupiter's opposition. Anyone can see the bright planet rising in the east at sunset. It outshines by far anything else in its patch of sky.
boingboing.net
Anonymous
This celestial phenomenon is termed as Jupiter's 'opposition' to the sun as the Earth passes between the sun and Jupiter.
indiatimes.com
Denise Beaudet Wightman
I woke up to let the dogs out and saw this very clearly. I didn't know what it was and woke my husband up to show him. Later I went online to find this article- so glad that I didn't miss and look forward to the 23rd. From Alma Ontario
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