Jupiter Will Look Bigger and Brighter Than Usual This Weekend—Here's How to Catch the Dazzling Display

December is a great month for stargazers, from the Geminid meteor shower to a Venus and crescent moon conjunction. This weekend, the night sky will offer another spectacular sight when Jupiter reaches opposition and looks the brightest it has all year.

Jupiter will reach opposition on Saturday, December 7. The planet will rise in the east-northeast, and be visible throughout the entire night. According to NASA, Jupiter’s opposition occurs every 13 months, a phenomenon that makes the planet seem larger and brighter than normal.

Opposition occurs when Earth flies between Jupiter and the sun, bringing the planet opposite the sun in our sky, EarthSky reports. The celestial event will be visible by 4 p.m. EST, as Jupiter rises around sunset. Stargazers can view the planet's beauty until around sunrise on the morning of December 7.

During opposition, Jupiter will be the second brightest planet in the sky next to Venus. Because of its size and brightness, you won't need anything but your eyes to see it. However, if you're inclined, a telescope will help you see even more details like the Galilean moons and atmospheric belts, according to NASA.