Fig (1)

Saturn at Opposition

 

On Saturday, 10 February 2007, Saturn will be at opposition, i.e., located opposite the Sun in the sky. Earth and Saturn will be on one side of the Sun. This is the best time to observe Saturn this year.

 

Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, will be closest to Earth, at approximately 1,200 million km away. It will rise around sunset, culminate around midnight, and set around sunrise. For telescope observers, Saturn's disc will be the biggest this year. Also, Saturn's rings will brighten temporarily, due to opposition.

 

Fig (2)

Planets over the Nile

http://www.astronomie.de/fachbereiche/astrofotografie/2005/27/planeten-nil.htm

Saturn, Venus and Mercury over the Nile in Luxor, Egypt

Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

 

Saturn is now in the zodiacal constellation Leo, the Lion. In Alexandria, it will rise in the northeastern sky, at about 17:45 EET. Shining at stellar magnitude 0.0, Saturn is currently one of the brightest objects in the evening sky.

 

You can locate Saturn on an interactive sky map on the following website.

 

http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/Yoursky

 

Further reading

Planets over the Nile

http://www.bibalex.org/Eclipse2006/News_Details.aspx?id=53

Karnak under Nighttime Sky

http://www.bibalex.org/Eclipse2006/News_Details.aspx?id=60   

 

 

Aymen Mohamed Ibrahem

Senior astronomy Specialist