How to Watch Saturn Cozy Up to the Moon Tonight
Tonight, Saturn will be visible and appear in super close proximity to the moon.
The planet will also be visible early tomorrow morning while the moon is still in the sky, but will still be millions of miles away from Earth.
Tonight, Saturn will saddle right up to the moon-and you might be able to see the spectacular pairing from your backyard. After 10 p.m. local time, the moon will be nearly full and Saturn will appear as a "glowing, yellow-white 'star' to the moon's upper left," per Space.com.
The ringed gas giant currently shines at at magnitude of +0.2, meaning it can be best seen with the naked eye if you're in a dark, rural area. However, you still may be able to see Saturn if you live in a city.
One reason why Saturn will look so bright is because in a few weeks, it will be in opposition. That means it's currently preparing to align itself with Earth and the sun, and that proximity provides us with prime viewing opportunities.
Saturn is also especially bright right now because its rings are currently titled toward Earth at a 24-degree angle. This head-on positioning, coupled with the pieces of ice floating in Saturn's rings, enhance the planet's overall brightness. The ice reflects any light on or near Saturn, and since the rings are facing us, it's similar to when you see a light reflected in a mirror.
You should still be able to see Saturn early tomorrow morning. And even though the planet may seem close, it'll actually be about 846 million miles away from Earth.
Want to see Saturn in all its splendor? Stock up on our favorite stargazing gear.
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