Catch the celestial mini parade that will put Saturn and its rings in the middle of an exhibition this weekend
Stargazers, mark your calendars! On Sunday September 21, Saturn will have its most brilliant display of 2025. The superb celestial spectacle occurs while the anchored planet reaches the opposition – an alignment once a year which provides the best conditions to see one of the most bewitching sites of our solar system.
After September 21, Saturn will remain visible in the night sky until February 2026. However, nothing compared to the brightness and clarity of the planet during the opposition. Whether you are a seasoned astronomer with a telescope or just someone who likes to watch, it will be a night not to be missed.
The best time and the best place to see Saturn
On the night of September 21, Saturn will rise in the east around the sunset and will remain visible all night, taking place to the west at dawn. To get the clearest view, head to local time around midnight, face the South-South-East and look at about a third of the sky.
Saturn will appear near the bottom of the constellation fish and, thanks to its brightness, it should be easy to find without using equipment.
As usual with most stars, it is better to find a place far from the artificial lights of the city. A less known advice: once you have found a place with a minimum artificial light pollution, give you 15 to 30 minutes to adapt to darkness. This waiting period will make a surprising difference in what you can see.
Learn more: Ocean Moon Oceladus of Saturn is capable of supporting life
How to see the rings of Saturn
While Saturn herself is visible to the naked eye, a simple backyard telescope could bring your vision to another level. With a little magnification – even only 30x – you can see the emblematic rings of Saturn.
During the opposition, the rings seem unusually shiny because the sun’s rays hit them directly, reducing shadows from the icy particles that form them. This year, the rings will be presented almost on board and will look like a fine sharp line through the planet.
This angle of vision is extremely rare, Saturn not appearing like that before 2040. So, if you have already wanted to witness the beauty of the rings of Saturn with your own eyes, it is the year to do it!
Why Saturn looks so brilliant during the opposition
The opposition occurs when the earth passes directly between Saturn and the Sun. At this stage, the three celestial bodies form a mini parade, forming in a straight line and revealing Saturn completely lit, a bit like a full moon. Saturn will also be at his point closest to the earth, which allows him to shine more brilliantly than any other time of the year.
This special event only occurs once every 378 days, which means that Stargazers has about one chance per year to see Saturn in all its splendor. On September 21, the timing could not be better because the moon will also be in its new phase, preventing the moonlight from washing the night sky.
Learn more: Saturn’s rings were formed long after the planet
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