Saturn will be highly visible all September and scientists say gazing at planets and stars lets us see ‘the biggest picture’
It has baffled minds as great as Galileo’s, inspired composers and fuelled sci-fi fantasies, but while Saturn will be on show all September, is anyone watching?
The ringed gas giant will be highly visible in the night sky all month, reaching its brightest on the 21st when Earth will sit directly between Saturn and the sun, a configuration known as opposition.
What is more, the planet will have an unusual appearance, with its rings nearly edge-on as seen from Earth, after an event known as a “ring crossing” that happens every 15 years or so when the planet is at equinox.
Stargazers in some parts of the world, including the US and UK, could be in for another treat this month as Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, and its shadow pass in front of the planet, showcasing a body scientists think could possibly harbour life.
