Saturn in opposition this weekend. Find the best time to view the ringed planet
At this point in time, Saturn is at its closest approach to Earth and fully illuminated by the sun.
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Have you seen Saturn in the night sky lately? It is now the best time of the year to view the majestic ringed planet. It’s been brighter all month long and that’s because this weekend the planet will be at opposition.
Opposition is when the Earth moves between the sun and an outer planet and they all line up in a row. It’s considered the best time to view, because Saturn is close and bright!
At this point in time, Saturn is at its closest approach to Earth and fully illuminated by the sun. This happens every 378 days. This year, it coincides with great nighttime weather.
The ringed planet will be easily visible all night. Saturn is now opposite the sun, so we will see it rise in the east after sunset and set in the west before sunrise.
The best time to view it is closer to midnight, because it will be high in the sky. Saturn can be seen with the unaided eye and looks like a bright star. With binoculars, it will look like a solid bright disc and with a small telescope, you’ll see the rings.
The rings are currently just about edge on, and you may not see very much of them.
Of course, this weekend is the best for viewing, but you'll be able to catch a glimpse of Saturn now through the end of the year.
Fun facts about Saturn. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It moves very slowly and takes almost 30 Earth years to complete one orbit. When in opposition, it will be 795 million miles away from Earth. Put it another way, it takes 71 minutes for its light to reach us. The beautiful ringed planet also has a tilt, which is similar to Earth’s, and this results in seasons.
