What's that bright star in the south-east after dark? If you're sky-watching just after dusk in December 2024, it's almost certainly the planet Jupiter. Shining brighter than at any time since November 2023, the giant planet this weekend reaches what astronomers call opposition. It's one of the astronomical highlights of the year -- the best-ever time to look at Jupiter both with the naked eye and with either binoculars or a small telescope.

Here's everything you need to know about Jupiter at opposition in 2024.

Technically, that's the night of Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, when Earth will be exactly between the sun and Jupiter. Consequently, from Earth, it's possible to see a full Jupiter. It's similar to when Earth is between the sun and the moon, and we see a full moon -- only it's much less frequent, with Jupiter at opposition occurring only once every 13 months.

On Dec. 7, Jupiter and Earth will also be closest to each other until 2026.

During this time -- and for a few weeks after -- Jupiter will be visible all night long and highest in the sky just after midnight.

You don't need a dark sky, nor any knowledge of the night sky, to enjoy the fifth planet from the sun (and the largest in the solar system) at its brightest and best.

Rising in the south-east after sunset, Jupiter will cross the sky and sink in the west at dawn. It's currently in the constellation Taurus, "the bull," between the bright stars Elnath and Aldebaran. The latter's name translates to "eye of the bull."

Although it's a majestic sight with the naked eye, if you find any pair of binoculars or a small telescope, you can get a stunning close-up. In binoculars, you will see a bright disc and possibly four moons -- Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto -- arranged on either side of Jupiter. If you have trouble keeping binoculars steady enough to see anything, bring your elbows in to rest on your chest, which should lessen the wobble. However, for a much better view, use any small telescope. As well as making the moons much easier to see, you'll be able to see Jupiter's cloud bands and possibly its Great Red Spot, a centuries-old storm.

The next opposition of Jupiter will happen on Jan. 10, 2026, and again on Feb. 10, 2027, and Mar. 13, 2028.

The timing of Jupiter's opposition is caused by the differing speeds of Earth, an inner planet 93 miles from the sun, and Jupiter, which is an outer planet 484 million miles from the sun. Jupiter takes 12 years to orbit the sun, in which time Earth orbits the sun 12 times. So, every 13 months, Earth catches up and overtakes it. When that happens, Jupiter looks exceptionally bright from Earth.