Saturn Viewing Times

[UnboxingReviews1997]

Hi Guys,

Just wondering, When will the best time be for viewing Saturn, not to late at night?

I live in staffordshire if that rough location helps.

Regards,

Ben

[Langy]

Just checked on Stellarium and by the looks of it tonight it will start to come up over the horizon about 12:30 - 1:00 and it will be at its highest point at around 4:00 - 4:30

[UnboxingReviews1997]

Just checked on Stellarium and by the looks of it tonight it will start to come up over the horizon about 12:30 - 1:00 and it will be at its highest point at around 4:00 - 4:30

Thanyou, but what will its highest point this year be (what time at night?)

[Steve Ward]

The time it reaches it's highest point gets earlier by about four minutes every day.

Easiest time at the moment is early morning rather than late night.

It will be at it's best at Opposition which this year is 10th May ....  http://www.spaceanswers.com/astronomy/4292/bbc-stargazing-live-part-2-astronomical-sights-of-2014/

[Langy]

I don't think it will get any higher that what we can get now for this year, but by the looks of things (stand to be corrected) it will be early - mid May when it is at it's closest.

Saturn takes around 29.5 years to orbit the sun, therefore over that period due to the tilt of the earth we will get a slight different view each year.

Download Stellarium (free software), you can flip through the nights to see at what time each night it appears in the sky.

[Steve Ward]

Good point Paul ... 

It is getting lower in the sky each year until it's lowest in 2018 when it starts to rise again.

[Pete Presland]

Good point Paul ... 

It is getting lower in the sky each year until it's lowest in 2018 when it starts to rise again.

crikey, what a depressing thought! its been bad enough this year from my observatory.

[SnakeyJ]

crikey, what a depressing thought! its been bad enough this year from my observatory.

Worth migrating southwards!

typed on my mobile with Tapatalk

[Steve Ward]

-16 degrees 18 minutes now .

-22 degrees 22 minutes in Jan 2018 

[LukeSkywatcher]

From what i have read of late, Saturn is either a late night or early morning object at the moment. As of right now here in Dublin it is well below the horizon. Maybe 1-2am start looking.