Night Sky

Saturn To Be Visible All Night

Saturn will become directly opposite to the Sun towards the end of this month. Thus, starting soon (by Saturday, August 4) this giant, gaseous planet, the one encircled by rings made up of countless billions of ice particles, will be rising over the southeastern horizon shortly after sunset and setting at sunrise throughout the month.

So, this is Saturn’s month to “shine”, the time when you’ll be able to view Saturn all night long. and at its brightest from about mid-August to mid-September. And, when the sky is truly dark (the new moon will take place on August 16) you can use Saturn to guide your eye to the faint “arrowhead” shape of Capricornus in our sky.

Meanwhile the young and very bright star Fomalhaut, located only 25 light-years away from Earth, will be increasingly visible as the ringed, gaseous giant nears opposition to the Sun.