Attention anyone with a telescope. This April Earth will fly between Saturn and the Sun; Saturn will be in opposition of the Sun. This isn't a rare thing, it happens every year. The reason I'm bringing it up though is because it's the best time to view Saturn. It will appear it's brightest all year on this day, and really for the rest of the month; although it will start to get dimmer as the days go by. Saturn should appear as bright as the brightest star which is the star Sirius.
On April 3, 2011, Earth will get between Saturn and the Sun, and Saturn will be opposite the sun in the sky. When looking for Saturn face to the East with your back towards the direction of sunset. As the sun sinks below the horizon Saturn pops up in the East. For all of 2011 Saturn will appear in the constellation Virgo near the star Spica. The best views of it are when it's higher in the sky, closer to zenith. After April as the Earth gets ahead of Saturn in it's orbital race around the Sun; Saturn will begin to appear fainter throughout May and June than it will look in April because the distance between us and Saturn will become greater. Right now we are close in orbit to Saturn which is why it will appear so bright and be so beautiful in all of it's ringed glory. Right now if you view Saturn you are viewing the rings Northern side as it's tilted towards the sun, back in 1996-2009 we were viewing the Southern side of Saturns rings.
Saturn in the East as it rises on April 3, 2011
Saturn at 12:30am April 4, 2011 at ZenithIf you miss Saturn on the 3rd it's alright you should still have a great sight of it for the rest of the month. So if you don't have a telescope to view it with you still have some time to get out and purchase one.
Saturn will remain in our night sky until late September or early October when it finally starts to disappear in the western twilight after sunset. Not to worry though Saturn will pop back up in the east before dawn around late October or early November when it starts it's cycle all over again.
So keep an eye open and a telescope ready as Saturn will be at it's closest to Earth and brightest in our sky on April 3, but will be in a great place for observation throught all of April.
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