Post by Centaur on Aug 27, 2023 10:51:16 GMT -6
Ringed Saturn currently rises around sunset and achieves opposition from the Sun on 2023 AUG 27, when it is out all night at stellar magnitude +0.4. Its rings will appear tilted at +9.0°.
At the time of its opposition, Saturn’s brightness peaks abruptly, unlike the gentle brightness curve for other planets. This sharp “oppositional flash” is due to a lack of a visible shadow of its rings on the planet, and the lack of ring particle shadows visible on each other, as viewed from Earth.
My Saturn charts can be found at: www.CurtRenz.com/saturn.html
Photos and descriptions of Saturn and its rings would be welcome additions to this thread.
At the time of its opposition, Saturn’s brightness peaks abruptly, unlike the gentle brightness curve for other planets. This sharp “oppositional flash” is due to a lack of a visible shadow of its rings on the planet, and the lack of ring particle shadows visible on each other, as viewed from Earth.
My Saturn charts can be found at: www.CurtRenz.com/saturn.html
Photos and descriptions of Saturn and its rings would be welcome additions to this thread.