Friday , June 3 will be an exceptional chance to get a glimpse of Saturn in the night sky . Saturn will reach opposition , giving the Earth - bound their good fortune of seeing the ringed colossus , which is the utmost planet that is still visible to the au naturel middle .
The formation is called an opposition because Saturn will be directly opposite from the Sun in the sky . That means the satellite will seem bright than normal , registering a brightness magnitude of 0 ( lower is brighter ) . That intend it will be brighter than most stars in the sky .
This oppositeness is especially especial because Saturn will be about as large as it amaze , pass by just 840 million miles from where you stand , its closest approach .
NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
By happenstance , both Saturn and Mars are at or near oppositeness and on their closest pass to Earth . That will make it easy to find Saturn . Find Mars in the southeastern sky just after sundown . It will be a burnished , muddy red . Just to the left field of Mars will be a pocket-size , yellow orb . That ’s Saturn show up off for you with its come - hither rings .
It ’s a not bad time to see Saturn , but you wo n’t actually be able-bodied to see the rings unless you get a scope with at least 25 times magnification , grant toSpace.com .
The opposition of Saturn can be discover throughout the dark , lift in the eastward after sunset and setting in the west just before sunrise .
NASA
If fresh melodic phrase and personal experiences are n’t your matter , you’re able to pullulate it withSlooh.org , who regularly stream astronomical events . If you miss Saturn at enemy altogether , no worries , because both Mars and Saturn will be seeable for the next couple of week ( though not at opposition like Saturn is on Friday ) .
If you may keep all that information in your pocket , you ’ll be the most interesting person at the taproom on Friday , as long as you may nullify going fullNeil Degrasse Tyson onGravity .
