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The summer time haze is regularly lifting, and with the Solar setting that a lot earlier we don’t have to attend as lengthy to get pleasure from a spot of stargazing. Plus, there’s the added bonus of not needing to bundle up for sub-zero temperatures.
Now could be the very best time of the yr to view Saturn, and it’ll go into opposition this weekend, on 27 August 2023. However what precisely does it imply after we say a planet is in opposition? How are you going to spot Saturn in opposition? And, which constellation will Saturn seem in?
The very best time to see Saturn
Saturn will attain opposition this weekend, on Sunday 27 August 2023, the place the planet and its rings will seem brighter than regular, shining at magnitude +0.3. For context, magnitude is a measure of brightness; the decrease the quantity, the brighter the thing. Primarily, we’ll be capable to see a ‘full’ Saturn.
“Saturn will likely be at opposition on 27 August and being extra distant than Jupiter, its brightness and measurement modifications are much less dramatic,” says veteran astronomer and The Sky at Night time presenter, Pete Lawrence.
However don’t be disheartened; Saturn has a trick up its sleeve:
“Its rings are principally shaped of water ice particles ranging in measurement from micrometres to metres. Away from opposition, particle shadows darken the particles behind them. Nonetheless, for a number of days round opposition, the shadows fall in line and grow to be much less apparent. Because of this, for those who view Saturn via a telescope, its rings seem to brighten,” explains Lawrence.
The ringed planet will rise at 8:06pm on 26 August 2023, because the Solar units on the similar time, and can sink under the horizon at 6:11am the following morning, on 27 August 2023.
What’s opposition?
In astronomy, opposition is when two objects seem in reverse instructions within the sky, when considered from our vantage level right here on Earth. On this occasion, the 2 objects are Saturn and the Solar. Throughout opposition, the daylight that shines on Saturn is absolutely mirrored again to us, and we will see the entire of its planetary disk. For us right here on Earth, that signifies that Saturn will seem brighter within the sky.
“Opposition describes an object being reverse the Solar within the sky,” says Lawrence. “For some planets, this generally is a massive deal – the weeks round opposition giving us our greatest views of them. At opposition, a planet can be seen all night time lengthy.”
When a planet is in opposition, this straight-line configuration (this weekend being Solar-Earth-Saturn) usually offers wonderful alternatives to watch and {photograph} the topic.
However not each planet reaches opposition.
“The inferior planets (the internal planets with orbits smaller than the Earth) Mercury and Venus can’t attain opposition. For superior planets (the planets additional away from the Solar with bigger orbits than Earth) the impact of opposition decreases with distance,” Lawrence explains.
Why do the rings change look?
Like Earth, Saturn has seasons, the place the planet experiences seasonal tilts (Saturn is tilted at round 27 levels with respect to its orbit across the Solar) pointing in the direction of, and away from the Solar. However not like Earth, which takes one yr for our planet to return to place, on Saturn it takes 29 Earth years.
Throughout these 29 years, as Saturn is consistently shifting in its orbital path, its orientation to Earth modifications. This causes the rings to look as if they’re altering form.
From our perspective, the rings seem to widen and shrink, with an edge-on alignment occurring twice in every orbit, roughly as soon as each 15-ish years.
We’re presently experiencing what many individuals would name the ‘traditional’ view of Saturn, however because the planet is tilting away from us, it’s regularly turning into extra edge-on, earlier than turning into absolutely edge-on in 2025. After that, it’s an extended wait till the rings are absolutely uncovered; 2032.
So, if you wish to see the traditional view of the ringed planet, now’s the time because it received’t be on this configuration once more for one more 29 years. We’ll have the same view in round 4 years’ time, however we’ll be trying up at Saturn’s hemisphere, fairly than having the northern hemisphere because the extra distinguished.
What else are you able to see when Saturn is in opposition?
The just about-full Moon will likely be lingering close to the southwestern horizon within the constellation Sagittarius, however you needn’t fear an excessive amount of concerning the gentle disrupting your view of Saturn; the Moon units at round 00:17am BST (simply after midnight).
Jupiter will likely be seen for those who flip in the direction of the jap horizon, and at magnitude -2.42, will seem to shine brighter than Saturn (keep in mind, the decrease the quantity the brighter the thing – so a destructive quantity is admittedly brilliant).
Just a bit additional to the east than Jupiter, Orion may be seen making its annual reappearance having been absent from our skies in the course of the summer time months. Nearly like welcoming an previous pal, it begins to peep over the horizon at round 1am, with the distinctive crimson supergiant Betelgeuse becoming a member of the social gathering from round 2am.
How can I spot Saturn within the night time sky?
For naked-eye observers, Saturn will seem as a really brilliant level of sunshine that (not like the celebrities) doesn’t twinkle. However you’ll want at the very least 40x magnification with both binoculars or a telescope to see the rings and produce them into focus.
Should you’re utilizing binoculars, be sure you regular them with a tripod, or Saturn will likely be bouncing all around the store. Eager eyes (via binoculars) may additionally be capable to make out Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.
Telescopes 3” and bigger offers you good views of Saturn and its rings, whereas 10” and bigger will let you determine discernible gaps within the rings. In case you are utilizing a telescope, then you may additionally need to use a blue filter to boost the rings, to make them stand out towards the darkish sky background.
To find Saturn, look in the direction of the south-eastern sky, near the horizon after sundown. Should you’re undecided which path is southeast, search for the place the Solar units, and bodily flip round 180 levels and also you’ll be dealing with Saturn (keep in mind, opposition is when a planet is reverse the Solar).
Saturn is presently within the constellation Aquarius, the water bearer. The ringed planet is nestled between the double star Sigma Aquarii and the binary star system Iota Aquarii, which make up the water bearer’s waist, relying on which reconstruction of constellation artwork you take a look at.
How usually do oppositions happen?
Every of the planets that attain opposition, achieve this roughly as soon as each Earth yr. It is because Earth, being the innermost planet, has a sooner orbit and passes between these planets and the Solar.
However like with most issues, there’s normally an exception to the rule, and this time it’s Mars that likes to do issues a bit in a different way.
As a result of Earth can obtain practically two full orbits within the time it takes Mars to make one, the crimson planet solely goes into opposition roughly as soon as each 26 months.
When are the planets in opposition?
- Mercury: By no means
- Venus: By no means
- Mars: 15 January 2025
- Jupiter: 3 November 2023
- Saturn: 27 August 2023
- Uranus: 13 November 2023
- Neptune: 19 September 2023
- The Moon: 31 August 2023
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