Saturn will reach opposition with Earth on Tuesday, July 9, marking its closest approach to our home planet this year. During opposition, the Earth will position itself directly in-between the Sun and the Ringed Planet. From this ideal position, Saturn will appear closer, brighter and more spectacular than on any other night this year. Saturn reaches opposition roughly 378 days, meaning each year it arrives 13 days later than its previous opposition.
In 2018, for instance, the astronomical event occurred on the night of June 15 and in 2020 it will happen on July 20.
According to astronomy guide EarthSky.org, Saturn’s opposition will peak tomorrow at 6pm BST (5pm UTC).
Here in the UK, the opposition will, unfortunately, occur in the daylight hours.
Sunset will not occur on Tuesday until after 9.16pm BST (8.16pm UTC).
But the good news is you will not have wait for the exact moment of opposition to see Saturn at all.
The Ringed Planet will feature in the night skies throughout the rest of the month of July.
Astronomers Deborah Byrd and Bruce McClure, of EarthSky, said: “And don’t worry about exact times too much.
“Just know that – around now – Saturn is more or less opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky, rising in the east around sunset, climbing highest up for the night around midnight and setting in the west around sunrise.
“When opposite the Sun, Saturn is visible all night and at its best”
Saturn is more or less opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky
Deborah Byrd and Bruce McClure, EarthSky.org
So, what is the best way to see the planet and its rings tomorrow night?
Saturn will be bright enough to see in the night skies without the aid of binoculars or a telescope.
But in order to see the planet’s spectacular rings, you will need a decent telescope to zoom in on the sixth planet from the Sun.
Saturn’s rings are chunks of ice and rock orbiting the planet at great speeds alongside Saturn’s moons.
According to Sky and Telescope, Saturn’s rings should be visible with as little as a 25-times magnification.
Bump up the magnification to 50-times and the rings will be much clearer and easier to distinguish.
On average, Saturn sits from the Sun at a distance of 934,161,332 miles (1.5 million km) away.
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