For skywatchers, 2026 begins with a great chance to see Jupiter at its largest and brightest, according to NASA’s latest tips on what to look for in the night sky in the coming month. But there’s more to enjoy than just Jupiter, so read on to find out more.
Jupiter in opposition
On January 10th, our solar system’s largest planet will shine at its most beautiful in all of 2026, so it’s definitely a sight not to be missed.
“Tonight, Jupiter will be in so-called ‘opposition,’ meaning Earth will be directly between Jupiter and the Sun,” NASA explained in a video released this week (above). “In this orientation, Jupiter will appear larger and brighter in the night sky than it does all year.”
To find it, look east and you will see the planet in the constellation Gemini. It will also be one of the brightest objects in the night sky, so it should be easy to spot – assuming the sky is clear, of course. In fact, only the Moon and Venus will appear brighter on the evening of January 10th.
The conjunction between the Moon and Saturn
Next, Saturn and the Moon will share the sky in a conjunction on January 23rd.
“A conjunction occurs when objects in the night sky appear close together when they are actually far apart,” NASA says in the video.
You will find the moon easily. Look a little closer and you should also be able to see Saturn directly below our nearest neighbor, glittering faintly in the night sky.
The Beehive Cluster
Finally, in January there is the opportunity to visit the Beehive Cluster, also known as Messier 44 or M44. The Beehive Cluster, first broken down into individual stars through a telescope by Galileo in 1609, consists of at least 1,000 stars in an open cluster, meaning it is a loosely connected group of stars.
To find the Beehive Cluster, look east shortly after sunset and before midnight in the coming weeks. NASA suggests the middle of the month as a good opportunity, as the cluster is neither too high nor too low in the sky at this time.
If the sky is dark enough and there is little light pollution, you may be able to see the hive cluster with the naked eye. However, if you have access to binoculars or a telescope, use them for an even better viewing experience.
