April 2025 marks our last chance to truly see Jupiter at its best this side of summer 2025, making this an exciting, enticing time to observe the gas giant king in the night sky.
Jupiter’s observing window slowly closes in April 2025, thanks to the planet’s move closer to the Sun combined with the expanding evening twilight.
On 1 April, Jupiter shines at mag. –2.0 and is positioned 40° above the west-southwest horizon as evening twilight darkens.
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A 16%-lit waxing crescent Moon can be seen further to the west of Jupiter (down and right as seen from the UK) that evening.
On the evening of 2 April, a 25%-lit lunar crescent will now be quite close to brilliant Jupiter.
As the pair approach setting at around 01:30 BST (00:30 UT) on 3 April, the Moon will be located 4.7° north of the planet.
Where Jupiter has been and where it's going
For many weeks, Jupiter has been located within Taurus, the Bull, close to the star Aldebaran and the Hyades open cluster.
It's been a beautiful sight to explore through binoculars, the gas giant riding just above the red star that forms the 'eye' of Taurus the bull.
This is still the case in April 2025, but there’s now evidence of Jupiter's slow eastward movement towards the two stars that mark the bull’s horn tips: Elnath (Beta (β) Tauri) and Tianguan (Zeta (ζ) Tauri).
Jupiter’s atmosphere has been interesting of late too, with a lot of disturbance within the south equatorial belt (SEB).
Appearing as a series of distorting white spots, these were quite extensive at the start of 2025.
By the end of the month, Jupiter is in a much less tenable state, just 18° above the western horizon at 22:00 BST (21:00 UT) as darkness is falling.
The Moon rejoins Jupiter on the evening of 30 April 2025, a slender 6%-lit waxing crescent 13.5° west of the planet.
Jupiter now appears much closer to the bull’s horn tips than it did at the start of April.
By the end of April, Jupiter sets not long after the Sun, being low down in the western horizon by the time it gets truly dark.
If you've enjoyed seeing Jupiter throughout 2025 so far, make the most of the planet in April while it's still visible!
Jupiter in April 2025, at glance
- Best time to see: 1 April, 21:00 BST (20:00 UT)
- Altitude: 40°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: West-southwest
- Features: Complex atmosphere, satellites
- Recommended equipment: 75mm or larger
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