{"id":34315,"date":"2022-07-25T13:37:01","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T13:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=51042"},"modified":"2022-07-25T13:51:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T13:51:11","slug":"see-saturn-at-opposition-in-august-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/see-saturn-at-opposition-in-august-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"See Saturn at opposition in August 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 25 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Saturn reaches opposition on 14 August 2022, a time so-named because the planet is in the opposite part of the sky to the Sun.<\/p>\n

A view of Saturn in the week running up to opposition<\/a> will show the rings getting brighter.<\/p>\n

In the week after opposition, Saturn\u2019s rings<\/a> slowly appear to revert back to their normal brightness.<\/p>\n

This is due to what\u2019s known as the opposition effect, a phenomenon caused by the shadows of the ring particles being reduced to a minimum as seen from Earth at opposition.<\/p>\n

For more stargazing advice delivered to your inbox every month, sign up to receive the <\/strong><\/em>BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/strong><\/a> e-newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Saturn\u2019s rings appear brighter near to opposition than at other times, as this compare and contrast shows. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

As has been the case for several years now, it\u2019s Saturn\u2019s north pole which is angled towards us.<\/p>\n

The tilt angle is slowly decreasing year on year, with minor variations within each year.<\/p>\n

Through August 2022 it changes from +13.3 to +14.3, which is low enough to keep the north-south extremes of the rings well within the boundaries of the planet\u2019s globe.<\/p>\n

At present they extend to a point roughly half-way between the apparent centre and poles of the planet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to see Saturn at opposition<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Chart showing the position of Saturn in August 2022, when the planet reaches opposition. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

At opposition Saturn manages a peak brightness of mag. +0.3 and is above the horizon from when the sky begins to darken to when it brightens with the onset of dawn.<\/p>\n

The full Moon sits near to Saturn on the nights\u00a0of\u00a011\/12<\/strong> and 12\/13 August<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Saturn\u2019s declination is slowly increasing which means it\u2019s getting higher in UK skies.<\/p>\n

This is a good thing as far as viewing the planet goes, as Saturn will appear less affected by low-level atmospheric turbulence.<\/p>\n

Through a telescope, the rings are the most obvious feature, but attention should be made to look for variations on the disc as well.<\/p>\n

As well as subtle banding, bright patches representing storms may sometimes be seen as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See the planets in the sky, August 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The phase and relative sizes of the planets in August 2022. Each planet is shown\u00a0with south at the top, to show its orientation through a telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Saturn<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n