How Jupiter’s apparent size changes
Jupiter appears 35″ across on 23 October 2026. It is 5.633 AU from Earth and is increasing toward its next maximum of 45.2″ on 11 February 2027.
Jupiter Size and Distance
Drag through the orbit to see how Jupiter’s apparent size, distance, brightness and illumination change over time.
- Angular diameter
- 35″
- Distance to Earth
- 5.633 AU
- Magnitude
- -2
- Illuminated
- 99.3%
Drag the orbit to move through the cycle
Jupiter Apparent Size Over Time
Approximately weekly samples cover the complete minimum–maximum–minimum cycle. Exact event dates are inserted between sampled rows.
| Date | Angular size | Distance | Magnitude | Rise–Set | Best observing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 31.3″ | 6.301 AU | -1.8 | 04:04 – 18:04 | — |
| 31.3″ | 6.294 AU | -1.8 | 03:44 – 17:41 | — | |
| 31.4″ | 6.277 AU | -1.8 | 03:24 – 17:19 | — | |
| 31.5″ | 6.25 AU | -1.8 | 03:04 – 16:56 | 03:28 – 03:28 | |
| 31.7″ | 6.214 AU | -1.8 | 02:44 – 16:33 | 03:08 – 03:35 | |
| 32″ | 6.168 AU | -1.8 | 02:24 – 16:10 | 02:47 – 03:42 | |
| 32.2″ | 6.113 AU | -1.8 | 02:03 – 15:47 | 02:27 – 03:48 | |
| 32.6″ | 6.049 AU | -1.8 | 01:43 – 15:23 | 02:06 – 03:54 | |
| 33″ | 5.977 AU | -1.9 | 01:22 – 14:59 | 01:45 – 04:01 | |
| 33.4″ | 5.897 AU | -1.9 | 01:00 – 14:35 | 01:24 – 04:07 | |
| 33.9″ | 5.81 AU | -1.9 | 00:39 – 14:11 | 01:02 – 04:13 | |
| 34.5″ | 5.717 AU | -1.9 | 00:17 – 13:47 | 00:40 – 04:19 | |
| Today | 35″ | 5.633 AU | -2 | 23:58 – 13:26 | 00:21 – 04:24 |
| 35.1″ | 5.618 AU | -2 | 23:54 – 13:23 | 00:17 – 04:25 | |
| 35.7″ | 5.515 AU | -2 | 23:31 – 12:58 | 23:54 – 04:32 | |
| 36.5″ | 5.408 AU | -2 | 23:08 – 12:32 | 23:31 – 04:38 | |
| 37.2″ | 5.299 AU | -2.1 | 22:44 – 12:07 | 23:06 – 04:45 | |
| 38″ | 5.189 AU | -2.1 | 22:19 – 11:41 | 22:41 – 04:51 | |
| 38.8″ | 5.079 AU | -2.2 | 21:53 – 11:15 | 22:16 – 04:57 | |
| 39.7″ | 4.972 AU | -2.2 | 21:27 – 10:48 | 21:49 – 05:03 | |
| 40.5″ | 4.868 AU | -2.3 | 21:00 – 10:21 | 21:22 – 05:08 | |
| 41.3″ | 4.77 AU | -2.3 | 20:32 – 09:53 | 20:54 – 05:13 | |
| 42.1″ | 4.678 AU | -2.4 | 20:04 – 09:25 | 20:25 – 05:16 | |
| 42.9″ | 4.596 AU | -2.4 | 19:34 – 08:57 | 19:56 – 05:18 | |
| 43.6″ | 4.523 AU | -2.5 | 19:04 – 08:28 | 19:26 – 05:18 | |
| 44.2″ | 4.463 AU | -2.5 | 18:33 – 07:59 | 18:55 – 05:17 | |
| 44.6″ | 4.416 AU | -2.5 | 18:02 – 07:30 | 18:23 – 05:15 | |
| 45″ | 4.383 AU | -2.5 | 17:30 – 07:00 | 17:52 – 05:11 | |
| 45.2″ | 4.365 AU | -2.6 | 16:53 – 06:25 | 17:35 – 05:05 | |
| Maximum | 45.2″ | 4.361 AU | -2.6 | 16:30 – 06:04 | 17:40 – 05:01 |
| 45.2″ | 4.362 AU | -2.6 | 16:21 – 05:55 | 17:42 – 04:59 | |
| 45.1″ | 4.375 AU | -2.5 | 15:49 – 05:25 | 17:48 – 04:51 | |
| 44.8″ | 4.403 AU | -2.5 | 15:17 – 04:55 | 17:55 – 04:29 | |
| 44.3″ | 4.445 AU | -2.5 | 14:46 – 04:26 | 18:02 – 03:59 | |
| 43.8″ | 4.501 AU | -2.5 | 14:15 – 03:56 | 18:08 – 03:30 | |
| 43.1″ | 4.57 AU | -2.4 | 13:45 – 03:27 | 18:15 – 03:00 | |
| 42.4″ | 4.649 AU | -2.4 | 13:15 – 02:58 | 18:22 – 02:31 | |
| 41.6″ | 4.737 AU | -2.3 | 12:46 – 02:30 | 18:29 – 02:03 | |
| 40.8″ | 4.833 AU | -2.3 | 12:18 – 02:02 | 18:36 – 01:35 | |
| 39.9″ | 4.936 AU | -2.2 | 11:50 – 01:34 | 18:43 – 01:08 | |
| 39.1″ | 5.042 AU | -2.2 | 11:24 – 01:07 | 18:51 – 00:41 | |
| 38.3″ | 5.152 AU | -2.1 | 10:58 – 00:41 | 18:58 – 00:14 | |
| 37.5″ | 5.263 AU | -2.1 | 10:33 – 00:14 | 19:06 – 23:48 | |
| 36.7″ | 5.375 AU | -2 | 10:08 – 23:49 | 19:14 – 23:22 | |
| 35.9″ | 5.485 AU | -2 | 09:44 – 23:23 | 19:21 – 22:57 | |
| 35.3″ | 5.592 AU | -1.9 | 09:21 – 22:58 | 19:27 – 22:31 | |
| 34.6″ | 5.697 AU | -1.9 | 08:58 – 22:33 | 19:33 – 22:07 | |
| 34″ | 5.797 AU | -1.9 | 08:35 – 22:08 | 19:37 – 21:42 | |
| 33.5″ | 5.891 AU | -1.8 | 08:13 – 21:44 | 19:40 – 21:18 | |
| 33″ | 5.98 AU | -1.8 | 07:52 – 21:20 | 19:41 – 20:53 | |
| 32.5″ | 6.062 AU | -1.8 | 07:30 – 20:56 | 19:40 – 20:29 | |
| 32.1″ | 6.136 AU | -1.8 | 07:09 – 20:32 | 19:38 – 20:06 | |
| 31.8″ | 6.202 AU | -1.8 | 06:48 – 20:08 | 19:33 – 19:42 | |
| 31.5″ | 6.26 AU | -1.7 | 06:28 – 19:44 | — | |
| 31.2″ | 6.309 AU | -1.7 | 06:07 – 19:20 | — | |
| 31.1″ | 6.348 AU | -1.7 | 05:47 – 18:57 | — | |
| 30.9″ | 6.378 AU | -1.7 | 05:27 – 18:33 | — | |
| 30.8″ | 6.398 AU | -1.7 | 05:07 – 18:10 | — | |
| 30.8″ | 6.408 AU | -1.7 | 04:47 – 17:46 | — | |
| 30.8″ | 6.409 AU | -1.7 | 04:44 – 17:43 | — | |
Why Does Jupiter Change Size?
Jupiter’s physical diameter is not changing. Its apparent angular diameter changes mainly because the distance between Earth and Jupiter changes as both planets move around the Sun.
When Will Jupiter Have Its Largest Apparent Diameter?
Jupiter will reach an apparent diameter of 45.2″ on 11 February 2027. That is about 1.3× wider than today, or roughly 1.7× the apparent disk area.
The largest apparent-size date has an observing interval from your location: 17:40 – 05:01. Apparent size alone does not describe seeing or atmospheric conditions.