Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: mickw on Mar 11, 2010, 09:49:58

Title: Lord of the Rings in Opposition
Post by: mickw on Mar 11, 2010, 09:49:58
This week the planet Saturn reaches opposition, placing it exactly opposite the sun in Earth's sky.

The exact time of opposition is Monday March 22 at 1h. Universal Time, which converts to Sunday, March 21 at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Being in opposition has several effects. Mainly, it means that Saturn rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, so is visible all night long everywhere in the world. At sunset Saturn is rising in the east, and at sunrise Saturn is setting in the west. At local midnight, Saturn is high in the southern sky in the northern hemisphere, or high in the northern sky in the southern hemisphere.

More :   Something for the weekend (http://www.space.com/spacewatch/saturn-moons-100310.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+spaceheadlines+(SPACE.com+Headline+Feed))