Jupiter: As the year starts, Jupiter is visible during the wee hours. It reaches opposition on May 13 and it’s fairly well placed for evening viewing in June and July – unfortunately for northern observers it’s well to the south of where it has been for the past several years. By September it sinks into the west at twilight and then disappears behind the Sun. It doesn’t returns in the dawn sky until early next year.
The year, we’re looking from a direction about 3° south of the plane of Jupiter’s equator. At that angle, Callisto passes below Jupiter’s south pole as it passes behind the planet and the other half of its orbit, Callisto and its shadow pass above Jupiter’s north pole. The other moons all get eclipsed by Jupiter and its shadow and they (as well as their shadows) all pass in front of Jupiter. 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 2030, Saturn is visible before dawn by late June and two months later it rises before midnight. It spends the year in Taurus close to the Hyades and Aldebaran, which it outshines by almost a full magnitude. It reaches opposition on November 27 and through November and December it’s well placed during the evening hours.
