The planet Saturn will be at opposition (directly opposite the Sun) at
about 10.14 pm GMT on Monday 20 July 2020. This means that it will both
be at its closest to the Earth this year, about 8.99 AU (8.99 times the
average distance between the Earth and the Sun, or about 1 344 885 000
km), and completely illuminated by the Sun. While it is not obvious to
the naked eye observer, the planets have phases just like those of the
Moon; being further from the Sun than the Earth, Saturn is 'full' when
directly opposite the Sun.
The relative positions of Earth and Saturn on 20 July 2020. Not to scale. EarthSky.
While the relative positions of the planets have no direct influence on
life on Earth, the opposition of Saturn does present the best
opportunity for observations of the planet by Earth-based observers. On Monday 20 July 2020 Saturn will appear as a bright object in the
constellation of Sagittarius, rising at about 8.55 pm local time in the southeast
in the
Northern Hemisphere and the northeast in the Southern Hemisphere. Seen
through a moderate sized telescope both the planet and its rings should
be visible, with the rings tilted at an angle of 21°.
See also...
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