Jupiter is starting to rise in the late evenings/early mornings. On 5th November, there’s a great opportunity to see bright Jupiter sitting above the Moon. It also appears alongside the constellation, Gemini. You’ll be able to see the two bright stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, that will appear to the left of the Moon. See if you can identify other stars in the constellation by using a stargazing app on your smart phone. The twins of Gemini appear upside down to us in the southern hemisphere.
If you’re using a telescope to view Jupiter, it’s a good idea to wait until Jupiter is higher above the horizon, so you get a clearer image through the eyepiece. Jupiter will be at its best viewing in coming weeks when it is closest to Earth for the year and is at opposition on 10th January 2026.
Use the above image as a guide. Astronomical images provided by SkySafari, a Simulation Curriculum Company, All rights reserved www.simulationcurriculum.com.
When and where to look:
From 1:00am, 11th of November. Look to the north east and low on the horizon.