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The in force time to viewSaturnis chop-chop approach !
The best position of the peal planet takes place when it enters opposition — in other words , when the Earth is directly between Saturn and the Sunday . This year , that ’s overnight between Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 .
Saturn and its rings spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope in Oct. 1998
You do not want to lack this once - a - class opportunity to see Saturn at its biggest and brightest ; after Sept. 8 , 2024 , you wo n’t be able to see Saturn in opposition until Sept. 21 , 2025 . Here ’s everything you ask to know to spot Saturn at its meridian size and brightness .
How to view Saturn
Viewing Saturn with the au naturel optic is n’t optimal because you wo n’t be capable to see its arresting rings . ( Without gear , the major planet look like a very bright wiz ) . The best means to view Saturn is to use abackyard scope , or a strongpair of stargazing binoculars , so you could see Saturn ’s anchor ring in sharp assuagement .
Because Saturn is nearing opponent , it will be in the opposite part of the sky as the setting Sun . On Sept. 7 and 8 , Saturn will appear in the configuration Aquarius . you could usesky chartsthat are update day by day to see Saturn ’s current position relative to Aquarius , or if you ’d like a small more hands - on help with find the ringed major planet , you could use apps likeStellariumto easily site Saturn or other ethereal objects .
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When to see Saturn
Saturn will grow between approximately 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time on Sept. 7 and will coiffe between some 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. local sentence on Sept. 8 . Saturn will reach its gamey decimal point in the sky around midnight local time on Sept. 8 . ( you may usethis toolfrom the U.S. Navy to check accurate rise and set times in your exact location ) .
Saturn will reach resistance when Saturn and the sun are positioned direct face-to-face of each other in the sky ; this will happen at12:27 a.m. EDTon Sept. 8 . When Saturn reaches enemy , it will come along larger because it will be at its close spot to Earth .
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n the night of Sept. 7 - 8,the moonwill be a waxing crescent ( 18 % full ) and will put around 10 p.m. local time , make double-dyed watch condition .
If you do n’t get the chance to observe the night sky on Sept. 7 - 8 , do n’t worry ! Saturn will still appear bigger and lustrous than usualin the calendar week or so before and after it reaches opposition , so there ’s plenty of time to see Saturn ’s closed chain in all their glory . From the commencement of September to Sept. 13 , the moonshine will setbefore midnight , which intend that you ’ll have ample opportunity to see Saturn at or cheeseparing opposition with Moon - free skies .
The Seeliger Effect
When you mention Saturn as it nears opposition , you ’ll be capable to see theSeeliger Effect , which is an strange brightening of Saturn and its ring . This effect happens because of the position of Saturn relative to the sun and our position on the world : the sun casts its ray from behind Earth straight off onto Saturn , straightaway illuminating Saturn and its rings , which is why Saturn is at its brightest when it ’s in opposition .
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Saturn : fact about the ringed major planet
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