* Opposition: This occurs when Jupiter, the Earth, and the Sun are aligned in a straight line, with the Earth in the middle. At this point, Jupiter is closest to Earth in its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter.

* Conjunction: This happens when Jupiter and the Sun are aligned in the sky, with the Sun in the middle. Jupiter is far from Earth at this time, making it appear faint.

* Closest to the Sun in its orbit: While being close to the Sun might make a planet receive more sunlight, this doesn't necessarily make it appear brighter from Earth. It's the distance between the planet and Earth that's the key factor in determining its brightness from our perspective.

In summary: Jupiter is brightest at opposition because it's closest to Earth at that time, even though it's not at its closest point to the Sun in its orbit.