{"id":62165,"date":"2024-07-31T09:28:38","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T09:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/d25eb017-62fc-45d0-b5cd-fc6f610b1b0e"},"modified":"2024-07-31T10:39:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T10:39:45","slug":"saturn-fans-prepare-the-ringed-planet-gets-better-this-month-as-the-sky-gets-darker-and-will-be-occulted-by-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/saturn-fans-prepare-the-ringed-planet-gets-better-this-month-as-the-sky-gets-darker-and-will-be-occulted-by-the-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturn fans prepare. The ringed planet gets better this month as the sky gets darker, and will be occulted by the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturn, its rings now nearly edge-on to us, is climbing higher in UK skies this month <\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 31 July 2024 at 09:28 AM<\/p>

\n\n

In August 2024, Saturn is the planet to plan your observing around, as the ringed planet will be climbing higher in the ever-darkening skies.<\/p>

After the June solstice, the lengthening period of night really aids in the visibility of Saturn.<\/p>

Saturn is now getting higher, which will hopefully give steadier views \u2013 essential for good results when imaging the planet.<\/p>

Get advice on how to observe Saturn through a telescope<\/a> and more stargazing advice by signing up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a> and listening to our weekly Star Diary podcast<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Saturn\u2019s rings as they appeared through a telescope in late May 2024. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
On 1 August 2024, Saturn reaches its highest position in the sky due south, with an altitude around 30\u00b0 up under deep twilight.<\/p>
However, by 10 August it reaches this position at 03:30 BST (02:30 UT) under truly dark conditions.<\/p>
$\"Chart$
Chart showing the location of Saturn in August 2024. Click chart to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Saturn’s rings<\/strong><\/h2>
Saturn looks slightly odd through the eyepiece as its tilt relative to Earth is now just 3\u00b0.<\/p>
This affects the visibility of Saturn’s famous rings<\/a>, which currently appear very thin.<\/p>
The planet will undergo a ring-plane crossing in March 2025, when the rings will appear edge-on to us.<\/p>
The rings are surprisingly thin, ranging from 10 metres to 1km thick.<\/p>
At the larger end of this scale, if you shrunk the rings to fill a sheet of paper, their scaled thickness would be 1\/100th the thickness of the paper!<\/p>
Consequently, when a ring-plane crossing takes place, the rings appear to disappear from view.<\/p>
$\"In$
In August 2024, Saturn\u2019s rings are tilted by just 3\u00b0, as shown here in March 2009. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**Saturn’s lunar occultation<\/strong><\/h2>**Excitingly, on the morning of 21 August Saturn will be occulted<\/a> by a 97%-lit waning gibbous Moon.<\/p>
This occurs just as the sky is becoming brighter with the onset of dawn.<\/p>
Saturn will be at mag. +0.3 on this date, disappearance occurring at 04:28 BST (03:28 UT) as seen from the centre of the UK and relatively easy to observe.<\/p>
Reappearance occurs at 05:13 BST (04:13 UT), which is before sunrise but with a much brighter sky.<\/p>
Despite this, it should still be easily visible given clear skies.<\/p>
$\"Chart$
Saturn will disappear behind a 97%-lit waning gibbous Moon on the morning of 21 August. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**Saturn August 2024, quick guide<\/strong><\/h2>**
**Best time to see:<\/strong> 31 August, 01:45 BST (00:45 UT)<\/li>**
**Altitude:<\/strong> 30\u00b0<\/li>**
**Location:<\/strong> Aquarius<\/li>**
**Direction:<\/strong> South<\/li>**
**Features:<\/strong> Rings, banded atmosphere, brighter moons<\/li>**
**Recommended equipment:<\/strong> 75mm scope or larger<\/li><\/ul>*****If you observe or image Saturn this month, share your observations and images with us by emailing*** ***contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n***
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Saturn\u2019s rings as they appeared through a telescope in late May 2024. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
On 1 August 2024, Saturn reaches its highest position in the sky due south, with an altitude around 30\u00b0 up under deep twilight.<\/p>
However, by 10 August it reaches this position at 03:30 BST (02:30 UT) under truly dark conditions.<\/p>
$\"Chart$
Chart showing the location of Saturn in August 2024. Click chart to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Saturn’s rings<\/strong><\/h2>
Saturn looks slightly odd through the eyepiece as its tilt relative to Earth is now just 3\u00b0.<\/p>
This affects the visibility of Saturn’s famous rings<\/a>, which currently appear very thin.<\/p>
The planet will undergo a ring-plane crossing in March 2025, when the rings will appear edge-on to us.<\/p>
The rings are surprisingly thin, ranging from 10 metres to 1km thick.<\/p>
At the larger end of this scale, if you shrunk the rings to fill a sheet of paper, their scaled thickness would be 1\/100th the thickness of the paper!<\/p>
Consequently, when a ring-plane crossing takes place, the rings appear to disappear from view.<\/p>
$\"In$
In August 2024, Saturn\u2019s rings are tilted by just 3\u00b0, as shown here in March 2009. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**Saturn’s lunar occultation<\/strong><\/h2>**Excitingly, on the morning of 21 August Saturn will be occulted<\/a> by a 97%-lit waning gibbous Moon.<\/p>
This occurs just as the sky is becoming brighter with the onset of dawn.<\/p>
Saturn will be at mag. +0.3 on this date, disappearance occurring at 04:28 BST (03:28 UT) as seen from the centre of the UK and relatively easy to observe.<\/p>
Reappearance occurs at 05:13 BST (04:13 UT), which is before sunrise but with a much brighter sky.<\/p>
Despite this, it should still be easily visible given clear skies.<\/p>
$\"Chart$
Saturn will disappear behind a 97%-lit waning gibbous Moon on the morning of 21 August. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**Saturn August 2024, quick guide<\/strong><\/h2>**
**Best time to see:<\/strong> 31 August, 01:45 BST (00:45 UT)<\/li>**
**Altitude:<\/strong> 30\u00b0<\/li>**
**Location:<\/strong> Aquarius<\/li>**
**Direction:<\/strong> South<\/li>**
**Features:<\/strong> Rings, banded atmosphere, brighter moons<\/li>**
**Recommended equipment:<\/strong> 75mm scope or larger<\/li><\/ul>*****If you observe or image Saturn this month, share your observations and images with us by emailing*** ***contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n***
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Saturn August 2024, quick guide<\/strong><\/h2>Best time to see:<\/strong> 31 August, 01:45 BST (00:45 UT)<\/li>Altitude:<\/strong> 30\u00b0<\/li>Location:<\/strong> Aquarius<\/li>Direction:<\/strong> South<\/li>Features:<\/strong> Rings, banded atmosphere, brighter moons<\/li>