Jupiter: Jupiter starts the year in the evening sky, where it’s well placed through March as it approaches conjunction with the Sun. If you’re up in the wee hours, you can see Jupiter again by late July. By November it rises before midnight and in December it’s well placed high in the east in time for evening viewing, on its way to opposition in January. Fortunately for northern hemisphere observers, Jupiter is far to the north, in Gemini. That means it rides high in the sky and is particularly well placed for observing with minimum interference from near-horizon turbulence.
This year, we’re looking from a direction a bit over 1° north of the plane of Jupiter’s equator, so the Galilean moons appear to travel on nearly straight paths that cross in front of and behind Jupiter. Therefore, they and their shadows pass in front of the planet. They also get eclipsed by Jupiter’s shadow and occulted by (pass behind) the planet. This handy Jupiter's Moons link from Sky & Telescope Magazine will guide you to the moons and what they’re doing tonight.
As always, look for the zones and belts. Even when its color is subdued, you should look for the Great Red Spot in the southern equatorial belt within an hour or so of when Jupiter’s rotation brings it towards us (this handy Red Spot transit times link, also from S&T Magazine will tell you when to look).
Saturn: In 2025 Saturn is at opposition on September 21. It’s visible before dawn by June, and between October and December it’s well placed for evening observing.
The reduced glare from the rings and the fact that Saturn is now close to the sky’s equator makes this is an excellent year to look for Saturn’s dimmer moons. To know where they are on any night, consult this useful Saturn's Moons link to from Sky and Telescope to keep track of them (they also have a handy mobile app).
