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Get your binoculars out ! On Saturday ( Jan. 4 ) , skywatchers in the U.K. and most of westerly and Central Europe will be able to see Saturn fell behind the crescent moon — an event known as a lunar eclipse . There are only two lunar occultations of Saturn in 2025 , so you wo n’t require to miss this arresting effect .
To get the best viewing experience , choose a location that ’s away from hokey light and allow about half an hour for your heart to adjust to the darkness .
There will be a lunar occultation of Saturn on Jan. 4 in Europe.
Saturn is very bright , so you could easily look at it with your naked eyes . However , it ’s skilful to employ a pair ofgood binocularsor abackyard telescopeso you could see Saturn as it grazes the edge of the moon . field glasses or a telescope will allow you to see the Sun Myung Moon ’s craters in acuate stand-in , and you ’ll even be able to spot Saturn ’s rings and moonlight .
On Jan. 4 , the Sun Myung Moon will be a wax crescent , about19 % illuminated . The moon and Saturn will be faithful together all night , so they will rise and set around the same time . The rise and coiffure times will deviate slimly depending on your location . you may use apps like Stellarium or sites likeTime and Dateto see when the moon and the major planet will get up and set in your exact location .
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Saturn will disappear behind the unlit part of the moon around 5:15 p.m. GMT , and will emerge from behind the illuminated part of the moon around 6:30 p.m. GMT . However , these times will vary depending on your precise location . you’re able to insert your location in the sidebar onIn - the - Sky , which will differentiate you a more precise time .
The lunar occultation of Saturn will be visible throughout the U.K. and most of Western and Central Europe , as well as in parts of Northern Europe and Northern Africa . This mapshows the commonwealth where this lunar eclipse will be seeable .
Although the lunar occultation of Saturn wo n’t be visible across the globe , you will still be able to see the conjunction of the moon and Saturn if you overleap the lunar occultation . search for Saturn and the moon in the southwesterly sky . The moon will be about 30 degree above the horizon .
The next lunar occultation will be in February ; it will be visible from extreme northerly latitude , parts of Russia and easterly Asia . After that , thenext well visible lunar occultation of Saturn will be in 2037 .
