Saturn is back. The sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the solar system, it’s at the top of most amateur astronomers’ wish lists. Rising just before midnight in July and high in the southern sky before sunrise, Saturn will be surrounded by a waning half moon on two nights this month.
Find a vantage point to the eastern horizon and be there around 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 23. You’ll see the Moon a little higher in the sky, to the right of the horizon, and 90% illuminated. SaturnIf you want to see the moonrise, arrive about 30 minutes early.
The next evening, Wednesday, July 24, the two worlds will appear close together again, this time with the 81% illuminated Moon positioned low in the sky, to the left of Saturn. The Moon will rise around 11 p.m. EDT (but check the exact time). Moonrise Wherever you are.
In both cases, Saturn and Moon Visible against the background Performer of AquariusFrom North America, the two comets will appear about 10 degrees apart from each other.
However, in parts of Asia and Africa View the Moon It crosses Saturn and hides for a few hours. In the skySaturn will be visible behind the Moon for several hours in east Africa, Madagascar, southern and eastern India, northwestern Indonesia, most of Southeast Asia, China and Mongolia.
Of course, this occultation and conjunction is a linear illusion: the Moon is about 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from the Earth on average. Earthaccording to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Saturn will be approximately 832 million miles (1.34 billion km) away from Earth on these particular dates, and these celestial phenomena will only occur from Earth’s perspective.
Related: July 2024 night sky: What you can see tonight [maps]
Another consequence of our change in perspective is Solar System Here’s how visible Saturn is right now. It’s almost fully illuminated as it grows toward opposition on September 8, when Earth will be exactly between Saturn and the Moon. Sun And Saturn. This is when Saturn will look its biggest, brightest, and most beautiful, but any time this summer is a great time to observe it.
However, Saturn’s rings cannot be seen clearly with the naked eye or binoculars alone: a telescope is needed to see the rings, and even a small 2-inch (50 mm) refracting telescope is enough to catch a glimpse of the ring patterns.
For a closer look at the planets in the night sky, check out our guide. The best telescope and The best binoculars.
If you want to photograph the close approach of the Moon and Saturn, here are some tips. How to photograph planetsand guides The best cameras for astrophotography and The best lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s note: If you’ve taken a photo of the Moon-Saturn close encounter and would like to share it with Space.com readers, send your photo, comment, name and location to [email protected].
