Observe Jupiter at Opposition from Tomintoul

Join us in Tomintoul for a magical evening of meteor spotting and stargazing in the heart of the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Cairngorms Dark Sky Park.

On 10 January, Jupiter reaches its closest approach to Earth for the year, shining at its brightest and largest in our night sky. At this time the planet is at opposition—positioned directly opposite the Sun—making it perfectly placed for observation throughout the evening.

Through the telescope, Jupiter’s four magnificent Galilean moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—will be clearly visible. Over the course of just a few hours, you’ll be able to watch them shift and dance around the planet, a vivid reminder that you’re witnessing a living, moving solar system.

With a little luck and clear skies, we may even catch a rare and breathtaking sight: one of Jupiter’s moons casting its shadow across the planet’s cloud tops, appearing as a tiny, inky black dot drifting across the giant world.

Wrap up warm, look up, and experience Jupiter as you’ve never seen it before.