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We fly between Jupiter and the sun today
Giant Jupiter is closest to Earth for 2026 on January 9. Then Earth will fly between the sun and Jupiter - bringing Jupiter to opposition - on January 10.
January 10, 2026
What does opposition mean for an outer planet?
Opposition is when Earth passes directly between the sun and an outer planet, placing the outer planet on the opposite side of the sky from the sun.
January 9, 2026
Venus superior conjunction (beyond sun) on January 6
The moment of the Venus superior conjunction - when it passes most nearly behind the sun as viewed from Earth - occurs today, January 6, 2026.
January 6, 2026
Why is Jupiter closest to Earth 1 day before opposition?
Jupiter's closest point to the Earth in 2026, is on January 9. The distance between the sun and Jupiter will be 393 million miles, or 633 million km.
January 5, 2026
Why no retrograde motion for Mars in 2026?
Mars won't have any retrograde - or westward - motion in 2026. What is retrograde motion? An explanation, and bizarre examples on other worlds, here.
January 3, 2026
Meteors in moonlight: 6 tips for watching
Meteors in moonlight: it's not optimal, but it's happening for the Eta Aquariids in 2026! Here are 6 tips for watching this year's shower.
January 2, 2026
Are the December solstice and January perihelion related?
December solstice 2025 occurred on December 21. Earth will be closest to the sun about 2 weeks later, on January 3. Coincidence?
January 2, 2026
How to translate UTC to your local time zone
The Earth has about 24 time zones. Because these differ widely, science uses Universal Time, or UTC. Learn how to translate UTC to your local time zone.
January 1, 2026
Yarkovsky effect: Pushing asteroids with sunlight
The Yarkovsky effect is a minuscule push on a small body in space, imparted by nothing more than sunlight. It can change the direction of asteroids.
January 1, 2026
How far is a light-year? Plus, distances in space
How can we comprehend the distances to the stars and other galaxies? Here's a way to understand a light-year in terms miles and kilometers.
January 1, 2026
