Astroblog: Opposition of Saturn, Monday, March 9, 2009

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Opposition of Saturn, Monday, March 9, 2009

The Australian sky looking north-east at around 9:00 pm local daylight saving time.

Saturn is at opposition, the time when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, tomorrow on Monday 9 March.

Now is a great time to see Saturn in a telescope, even a small one. Saturn will be visible all night, and get high enough in te sky to get above most of the murk of the horizon before bedtime. While tomorrow night Saturn is at its biggest, as a giant planet in a wide orbit, it will remain a fantastic sight for weeks (unlike Mars which rapidly changes size).

Saturn's rings are edge on, which only happens every 14-15 years, so you are in for a rare treat.

If you don't have a telescope, pester a friend who has one. If your friends don't have a telescope, get together and go to your local astronomical societies or local observatory/planetarium's open night. You won't be sorry.

Labels: Observational Astronomy, Saturn