Jupiter will be the closest it's been to Earth in 59 years on September 27, giving stargazers a prime opportunity to spot the gas giant clearly in the night sky.

The planet's approach to Earth falls at the same time that it will be directly opposite the sun – meaning Jupiter will look bigger, brighter and closer than normal.

Jupiter usually doesn't come this close to Earth because the planets have differing orbits around the sun, and are a different distance from each other each time they pass.

At it's furthest away, Jupiter can pass us by 966 million km away. This pass will see the planet just 591 million km from Earth.

According to timeanddate.com, Jupiter will be up almost all night in New Zealand, rising about 7pm and setting at 7am.

You'll be able to see the planet, says Josh Aoraki, an astronomer at Auckland's Stardome Observatory & Planetarium.

'As soon as the sun sets you'll see Jupiter in the east. It will remain in the sky the entire night, and it will set in the west in the morning.”

Most planets are visible to the naked eye, so you'll only need to head outside and look up to catch a glimpse of Jupiter, Aoraki says.

'If anyone does have equipment – binoculars or a telescope – that's going to give you a really good view, and with those you can also spot the moons of Jupiter too.”

Darker skies away from light pollution and places of higher altitude are ideal for stargazing and spotting planets, according to Nasa.

If you miss out on seeing Jupiter now, you'll be waiting a while for another view this close – the next time the planet will come this close to Earth will be in 2129.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is the fifth planet from the sun.

The planet is made up of gas and lacks a solid surface like Earth. Nasa's Juno orbiter is currently exploring the planet, researching its origins and evolution.

-Ella Morgan/Stuff.