From Sky and Telescope:

Jupiter reaches opposition on September 26th just 591 million kilometers (367 million miles) from Earth, the closest they’ll pair for the year. Opposition distances vary depending on where the planet happens to be in its orbit when opposition comes around. The closer perihelion and opposition dates align, the closer the two planets will draw together and the brighter and larger the gas giant will shine.

This go-round, Jupiter lines up with Earth just four months shy of its January 21, 2023, perihelion. It hasn’t been this close since the October 1963 opposition and won’t be again until October 7, 2129. That’s why it appears exceptionally large (49.9″ across) and bright (magnitude –2.9). But that’s only half the story.