Best time to see Jupiter in Des Moines tonight
The best time to see Jupiter in Des Moines tonight is around 9:32 PM local time, when it climbs to 4° above the horizon, shining at magnitude -1.8. It rises at 7:16 AM, and with 45% cloud cover in the forecast, viewing conditions look poor tonight.
Des Moines, IA · Friday, July 3 · look west-northwest
best window · magnitude -1.8
Better to wait: skies are partly cloudy and it sits low in the sky.
- Partly cloudy (45%)
- Low in the sky (4° up)
- Best after twilight ends
- Altitude4° · Low
- BrightnessMag -1.8 · Brilliant
- Cloud cover45% · Partly cloudy
- Sky darknessBortle 7 · Suburban–urban transition
Tonight's timeline
94% avg cloudLook West-northwest
It rises at 7:16 AM and reaches 4° above the horizon at its best.
The brightest steady point
Look west-northwest — Jupiter outshines every star and burns with a steady, un-twinkling light.
Count its moons
Steady 10×50 binoculars show up to four Galilean moons as tiny dots in a neat line — they shuffle position night to night.
Belts and moons
Even a small scope shows Jupiter's two dark cloud belts and the four bright moons swapping sides through the week.
Count the tiny dots strung in a neat line beside the planet — the Galilean moons, and they visibly change places from night to night. A small telescope adds Jupiter’s two dark cloud belts across its cream-coloured disk.
Jupiter is so big that more than 1,300 Earths could fit inside it!
SKY DARKNESS
Bortle 7Edge-of-city sky — the brightest constellations still stand out, and darker skies are a short drive away. The Moon, planets and the ISS shine right through city glow.
WATCHING WITH
Common questions
Where exactly should I look?
Face west-northwest and look low near the horizon — an open view without buildings or trees helps. Jupiter reaches 4° altitude around 9:32 PM from Des Moines, IA.
What's the exact best time?
9:32 PM local time tonight, when Jupiter stands highest in evening twilight, after sunset. It is up from 7:16 AM until it sets at 9:59 PM.
Do I need a telescope?
Not to spot it — Jupiter outshines every star. Binoculars reveal up to four of its moons, and a small telescope adds the dark cloud belts.
Will clouds get in the way?
Forecast says 45% cloud cover at the 9:32 PM viewing time (94% average across the night). Look for gaps — Jupiter reappears the moment the cloud breaks.
How bright is Jupiter tonight?
Jupiter shines at magnitude -1.8 tonight — as bright as the brightest stars. Planets shine with a steady light while stars twinkle — that steadiness is the giveaway.
When is the best night to see Jupiter this week in Des Moines?
Saturday: 0% cloud forecast at its best time and Jupiter climbs to 4°. That's the pick across the next 7 nights from Des Moines.