The Planets

Saturn

Saturn is brighter than most stars (approximately magnitude +0.5), so it's pretty easy to find. This planet, with its rings readily visible using the smallest telescopes although not in 8 x 50 binoculars, always elicits a "WOW!" or "OOOO!" from first time viewers and it's always a popular target. Saturn reached opposition on January 14, 2004. It will be well positioned for observing in the constellation Gemini during the fall of 2004 and winter of 2005.

The software programs, Meridian v4.8 and SkyChart III , can be used to predict the positions of Saturn's moons, only one of which, Titan, is readily visible in a small telescope.

 

 

Updated on 2005-03-03