Jupiter skips opposition in 2025. Its last opposition occurred on 7 December 2024, and the next will take place on 10 January 2026.
This gap is a normal part of the planet’s roughly 13-month opposition cycle.
The good news is that this puts Jupiter in an excellent position for observation and imaging during October 2025.
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Jupiter is in Gemini at present, near the stars Castor (Alpha (α) Geminorum) and Pollux (Beta (β) Geminorum), a spot that Mars passed through last spring.
The planet is bright at the moment, shining at mag. –2.0 at the start of October and brightening slightly to mag. –2.2 by the end of the month.
Last season saw some interesting atmospheric events taking place, one being the return of the North Temperate Belt (NTB), a dark, narrow belt located just north of the North Equatorial Belt (NEB) in the North Temperate Zone (NTZ).
The South Equatorial Belt (SEB), which is famous for being the home of the persistent storm known as the Great Red Spot (GRS), also shows lots of turbulent activity.
Get our full guide on how to observe Jupiter through a telescope
Jupiter’s next equinox arrives in late 2026, when the planet is presented sideways-on to the Sun, the Sun being on Jupiter’s equatorial plane.
But the effects begin earlier: by late 2025, moon Callisto will be able to show transits and shadow transits across Jupiter’s disc, among other events.
At the very end of the month, Jupiter reaches its highest UK altitude under truly dark conditions.
When due south, it will appear 58° above the horizon as seen from the centre of the UK.
This is excellent news for planetary observers, because it means Jupiter sits well above the haze and turbulence of lower altitudes.
Jupiter in October 2025, key facts
- Best time to see: 31 October, 05:15 UT
- Altitude: 58°
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: South
- Features: Complex atmosphere, moons
- Recommended equipment: 100mm or larger
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