<p>If you know the date of the last opposition, then the next one will be about 399 days later (ie a year, a month and a bit).  That is just counting days.  So if you know that there was an opposition on June 1st, then the next one will be 399 days later, on about July 4th of the following year.</p>
<p>But this assumes circular orbits and so is good for an estimate, but is not exact It's usually out by a few days. Properly calculating the time of opposition requires you to calculate the position of the planets following elliptical orbits (and perturbed by each other's gravity etc).  Fortunately, you can get a table which lists the dates of opposition:</p>
<p>August 20, 2021: Aquarius<br />
September 26, 2022: Pisces<br />
November 1, 2023: Aries<br />
December 6, 2024: Taurus<br />
January 9, 2026: Gemini<br />
February 10, 2027: Leo<br />
March 13, 2028: Virgo<br />
April 13, 2029: Virgo<br />
May 14, 2030: Libra<br />
June 16, 2031: Ophiuchus<br />
July 20, 2032: Sagittarius<br />
August 25, 2033: Back in Aquarius (<a href="https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/jupiter-12-year-opposition-cycle/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</p>
<p>The calculation of these dates is ultimately based on observation.  There is no way to calculate them purely from the knowledge of the synodic or sidereal period.</p>
<p>So, as of 14th May 2022, there are 135 days until the next opposition.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-14T08:11:23.427Z
Thanks. How about inner planets like Mercury, Venus?
Arcana
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-14T10:45:16.647Z
Well they dont have oppositions, but you could look up the dates of their conjunctions (ie when the Earth would be in conjunction viewed from Mercury.
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-24T06:08:39.623Z
Thanks again. How about between Mercury-Venus, Venus-Mars, and Jupiter-Saturn? Without respecting to Sun.
Arcana
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-14T07:08:38.083Z
2022-05-14T07:08:38.083Z
James K
<p>One of the many tools used in Astronomy are the formulas used to determine Orbital Motion. There are two basic forms of orbits:</p>
<ul>
<li>Sidereal Period</li>
<li>Synodic Period</li>
</ul>
<p>For Jupiter:</p>
<p><span class="math-container">$$\mathrm{\frac{1}{P} = \frac{1}{E} - \frac{1}{S}}$$</span></p>
<p>where</p>
<p>P = sidereal period in both equations
<br>S = synodic period in both equations
<br>E = Earth's orbit in both equations</p>
<p>Synodic period in this case, for Jupiter is 398.88 days.</p>
<p><strong>Query</strong>: Is there any formula to calculate how many days left for Jupiter to reach its next synodic period from Earth? or how many days left until Jupiter is in opposition?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-14T05:47:04.297Z
I'm not sure what you mean by "reach it's next synodic period"  The synodic period is a length of time, it doesn't have a fixed start point.  I suppose you could mean "how many days left until Jupiter is in opposition" (since oppositions occur once in each synodic period)  Can you confirm that or explain what you do mean?
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-14T05:50:53.437Z
okay. Opposition yea that's the point. How long does it takes to finish synodic period, or reaching opposition. Thanks for the information.
Arcana
<observational-astronomy><orbit><orbital-elements><synodic-period>
Calculate how many days left for synodic period from particular planet
Arcana
# Calculate how many days left for synodic period from particular planet

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-05-14)

One of the many tools used in Astronomy are the formulas used to determine Orbital Motion. There are two basic forms of orbits:

* Sidereal Period
* Synodic Period

For Jupiter:

$$\mathrm{\frac{1}{P} = \frac{1}{E} - \frac{1}{S}}$$

where

P = sidereal period in both equations
  
S = synodic period in both equations
  
E = Earth's orbit in both equations

Synodic period in this case, for Jupiter is 398.88 days.

**Query**: Is there any formula to calculate how many days left for Jupiter to reach its next synodic period from Earth? or how many days left until Jupiter is in opposition?

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, orbit, orbital-elements, synodic-period

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm not sure what you mean by "reach it's next synodic period"  The synodic period is a length of time, it doesn't have a fixed start point.  I suppose you could mean "how many days left until Jupiter is in opposition" (since oppositions occur once in each synodic period)  Can you confirm that or explain what you do mean?  
> **username_0**: okay. Opposition yea that's the point. How long does it takes to finish synodic period, or reaching opposition. Thanks for the information.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-05-14. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

If you know the date of the last opposition, then the next one will be about 399 days later (ie a year, a month and a bit). That is just counting days. So if you know that there was an opposition on June 1st, then the next one will be 399 days later, on about July 4th of the following year.

But this assumes circular orbits and so is good for an estimate, but is not exact It's usually out by a few days. Properly calculating the time of opposition requires you to calculate the position of the planets following elliptical orbits (and perturbed by each other's gravity etc). Fortunately, you can get a table which lists the dates of opposition:

August 20, 2021: Aquarius  
September 26, 2022: Pisces  
November 1, 2023: Aries  
December 6, 2024: Taurus  
January 9, 2026: Gemini  
February 10, 2027: Leo  
March 13, 2028: Virgo  
April 13, 2029: Virgo  
May 14, 2030: Libra  
June 16, 2031: Ophiuchus  
July 20, 2032: Sagittarius  
August 25, 2033: Back in Aquarius ([source](https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/jupiter-12-year-opposition-cycle/))

The calculation of these dates is ultimately based on observation. There is no way to calculate them purely from the knowledge of the synodic or sidereal period.

So, as of 14th May 2022, there are 135 days until the next opposition.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. How about inner planets like Mercury, Venus?  
> **username_1**: Well they dont have oppositions, but you could look up the dates of their conjunctions (ie when the Earth would be in conjunction viewed from Mercury.  
> **username_0**: Thanks again. How about between Mercury-Venus, Venus-Mars, and Jupiter-Saturn? Without respecting to Sun.  

---

