Saturn in opposition: how to watch the ringed planet align with the Earth

Saturn, with its glorious rings, is a gem in the night sky, and an excellent Saturn viewing opportunity presents itself. The night of Sunday August 1 and the morning of Monday August 2 will mark the opposition of the planet – when it is aligned with the sun and the Earth is in the middle, like a heavenly sandwich.

In its daily sky observation guide, NASA called early Monday morning as the preferred viewing time. “Saturn is directly in front of Earth’s sun on this date. At the time of opposition, it is visible all night, peaking around midnight,” the space agency said.

Gas giant Jupiter will also take part in opposition action this month, with its big date set for August 19. As with Saturn, it will be visible all night long and peak around midnight.

The annual opposition usually means that a planet is brighter than usual, but the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics notes that “the difference will be barely noticeable, given the distance at which Jupiter, and in particular Saturn, orbit.”

A stargazing app can help you determine the location of Saturn, which will rise in the east after dark. Now is the perfect time to take out your binoculars for a closer look. Better yet, a small telescope can help focus the historic rings of the planet. With the right gear, you might even spot its larger Titan moon looking like a point of light nearby.

You don’t need to hit the opposition on the nose to enjoy the show. The Ringed Planet should be easy to spot in the night sky for days on either side of the main event. The same goes for Jupiter. August is a perfect month to observe the planets.

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