Saturn – Astronomy Now

Watch as the Moon hides Saturn

20 August 2024 Mark Armstrong

Let’s hope for some clear skies on the morning of 21 August, so we can observe the beautiful ringed planet Saturn being occulted by the Moon.

Giant moon Titan occulted by Saturn

6 August 2024 Mark Armstrong

Presently, there are a number of events taking place involving Saturn’s moons. Saturn’s moons revolve in the plane of Saturn’s equator, so the outline of their orbits matches that of the ring system. This means when the rings are closed up sufficiently we can see Saturn’s moons undergoing ‘Galilean-type’ phenomena.

See Saturn as opposition this weekend

22 August 2023 Mark Armstrong

The amazing ringed world Saturn, the jewel in the Solar System’s crown, comes to opposition on 27 August.

Webb takes a spectacular infrared look at Saturn and its brilliant rings

30 June 2023 Astronomy Now

The James Webb Space Telescope turns its infrared eye on Saturn to test the observatory’s ability to tease out new details about the planet’s rings and moons. As might be expected by now, researchers were not disappointed.

Phosphorous detection strengthens case for Enceladus’ habitability

16 June 2023 Astronomy Now

Researchers find high concentrations of phosphorous in water ice spewed from Saturn’s moon Enceladus, more evidence of a habitable sub-surface environment.

“Rain” from Saturn’s rings heats the planet’s upper atmosphere

5 April 2023 Astronomy Now

An analysis of archival data shows particles raining down from Saturn’s rings heat the planet’s upper atmosphere.

Catch superb Saturn at its best in 2022

11 August 2022 Mark Armstrong

The Solar System’s most picturesque planet comes to opposition at 17h UT on 14 August, when it lies at the vast distance of 1,324 million kilometres.

Hubble Space Telescope completes its annual ‘grand tour’ of the Solar System

13 December 2021 Astronomy Now

The Hubble Space Telescope takes its annual tour of the outer planets, capturing spectacular views of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune to help astronomers monitor their always changing weather patterns.

Ripples in innermost rings show Saturn’s ‘fuzzy’ core wobbles

16 August 2021 Astronomy Now

Ripples in Saturn’s innermost rings indicate the planet’s core is a thick “soup” of material that sloshes about slightly, creating detectable gravitational fluctuations.

Helium ‘rain’ in Saturn’s interior may influence magnetic field

7 May 2021 Astronomy Now

Data collected by the Cassini spacecraft during its final few orbits of Saturn is shedding new light on the planet’s deep interior.