As Jupiter reaches a point opposite the Sun in our sky (opposition), its at its closest and brightest until 2026.

The bright star seen in the eastern evening sky in recent weeks isn't a star, it's a planet. Jupiter is at its closest (380,161,047 miles away by my math), and as a result, biggest and brightest this weekend until 2033.

You can't miss the bright point of light above the eastern horizon after sunset. Jupiter will continue rise throughout the evening and will be visible all night. Venus is should also be visible near the western horizon, bright enough to be seen in the dusky glow of the setting Sun.

This happens every 13 months as Earth catches up to and passes Jupiter. Astronomers call this position opposition because the planet is exactly opposite the Sun in our sky. Like the full moon, another opposition we see each month, Jupiter rises at sunset and sets at sunrise.

Saturday's clear skies will provide a great opportunity to spot Jupiter as it reaches opposition an hour before sunset Sunday's clear and warmer temperatures will also be great.

Actually though Jupiter will be a little further away each evening this month, it will continue to be big and bright after sunset. Each evening, the planet will be a little higher above the horizon. This means you'll be looking through a little less atmosphere.

Earth's atmosphere is about 100 miles thick. At the horizon you are looking through about 25 times as much atmosphere. This is why even on the darkest night, the stars directly overhead (zenith), are brighter than those closer to the horizon.

For the Python code used to calculate oppositions of Jupiter and their distances, using the same data NASA uses to plan planetary exploration missions, is available in this GitHub repository.