The ringed planet Saturn is often hailed as a result of the jewel of the photograph voltaic system and you have got a possibility to see why in a free webcast tonight.
Saturn, which has basically essentially the most dazzling rings of the entire planets inside the photograph voltaic system, reaches a level in its orbit known as opposition tonight (Aug. 14) that marks its closest and brightest look inside the night time time sky this 12 months. To have a great time, the online Digital Telescope Problem will broadcast dwell views of Saturn from a telescope in Ceccano, Italy. Local weather permitting, the webcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT). It’s going to appear on this net web page at start time, nevertheless it is also attainable to observe instantly on the Digital Telescope Problem website online (opens in new tab), too.
“As a result of the lunar cycle progresses, Saturn and the background of stars will appear to shift westward each night time as Earth strikes throughout the photo voltaic,” NASA wrote (opens in new tab) in an August skywatching info. “Saturn will most likely be at its closest and brightest for the 12 months on Aug. 14, rising spherical sunset and setting spherical daybreak.”
Related: The brightest planets of the August 2022 night time time sky
When Saturn is at opposition, it is in a level in its orbit that is on the opposite side of the Earth from the photo voltaic. It is usually at its closest stage for the 12 months, which in 2022 is about 823 million miles (1.32 billion kilometers).
In step with Space.com’s skywatching columnist Joe Rao, Saturn is in the mean time shining at a magnitude of +0.3, which is a bit brighter than Procyon, the eighth brightest star inside the night time time sky. The planet is seen inside the southeastern sky.
Saturn isn’t the one planet you probably can see in tonight’s sky. Jupiter and the moon will even positioned on a gift, NASA has acknowledged.
An illustration exhibiting Saturn at opposition inside the night time time sky of August 14, 2022. (Image credit score rating: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
“On Sunday night time time into Monday morning, Aug. 14 to fifteen, 2022, Jupiter will appear to the left of the waning gibbous moon. The pair will rise above {the japanese} horizon at 9:58 p.m. EDT with Jupiter about 6 ranges to the left of the moon,” NASA wrote (opens in new tab) in its info. (Your closed fist held out at arm’s dimension covers about 10 ranges of the sky.) “The moon will attain its highest inside the sky for the night time time Monday morning at 4:02 a.m. with Jupiter about 4 ranges above the moon, and morning twilight will begin just a bit better than an hour later at 5:19 a.m.”
This sky map displays the place Jupiter and the moon will most likely be inside the southwestern sky inside the night time of Aug. 14, 2022. (Image credit score rating: Starry Night Software program program)
Are you looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe Saturn, Jupiter or the moon? Our guides for the best binoculars provides and the best telescope provides now are a terrific place to start out out. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography might also help you uncover gear to grab the next skywatching sight like an expert.
Editor’s discover: If you snap an amazing image of Saturn or one other night-sky sight and in addition you’d want to share it with Space.com for a story or image gallery, ship photographs, suggestions and placement information to spacephotos@space.com.
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