⛰️ Outdoors · Astronomy
Saturn Observation Night
This Sunday, Saturn is face to face with Earth… and that night it never hides
- When
- Saturday, October 17
- Where
- Observatorio Histórico Manuel Foster, Santiago
- Organizer
- Observatorio Histórico Manuel Foster
🪐 This Sunday, Saturn stands face to face with Earth… and that night it never hides 👀 ☀️🌍🪐 On Sunday, October 4, Earth passes right between the Sun and Saturn: it rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and shines like few other times of the year. It happens every 378 days, about two weeks later each year. The next one: October 18, 2027. 📏 Sunday's numbers: 🔭 It is 1.262 billion km away: its light takes 70 minutes to reach you ✨ Magnitude +0.3, as bright as Procyon 💍 Its rings are tilted 7.5° toward us, showing us their southern face 🔄 Why do they change? The rings don't move: they always point the same way in space. What changes is our angle as Saturn orbits the Sun. In 2025 we saw them edge-on; in 2032 they will be at their maximum opening, 27°. 🧭 From Santiago: it rises in the east at 19:36 and at 01:35 it is at 55° altitude toward the north. The Moon doesn't rise until 04:20: a dark night 🌑 👀 To the naked eye, it is a golden dot that doesn't twinkle. To see the rings you need a telescope… and we have them 😉 🗓️ Observation Nights: Saturday, October 17 and Saturday, October 24, and a special Halloween night on the 31st 🎃 Limited spots at observatoriofoster.com (link in bio) 💬 Have you ever … On the flyer: SOUTHERN SKIES OPPOSITION OCT 4 THAT LITTLE DOT IS SATURN WITH RINGS AND ALL Saturn, face to face On Sunday, October 4, Earth passes between the Sun and Saturn: the ringed planet, all night in the sky. THE MOON AND SATURN PHOTO: THOMAS H. PUZIA AUG 12 2019 Observatorio Manuel Foster CERRO SAN CRISTÓBAL SINCE 1903