Saturn Retrograde - Now in Evening Sky - Graphics

[Notrump]

Today Saturn is at its station where it commences apparent retrograde motion in right ascension. Tonight it will be rising at 23:00 for Chicagoland observers, and about four minutes earlier each following evening. It will reach opposition from the Sun on April 15. I’ve written a more detailed description of Saturn’s current apparition, and created numerous preview charts including a ring tilt graph.

Link to my Saturn article and graphics: www.CurtRenz.com/saturn

 

[Notrump]

While Saturn’s opposition from the Sun isn’t expected until April 15, its greatest brilliance for this opposition at magnitude +0.2 is estimated to have already occurred on April 6. That’s due to the apparent ring tilt decreasing while Saturn is in apparent retrograde motion: www.CurtRenz.com/saturn

 

[pakeha]

Thanks for posting this!

 

[Brown]

Saw Saturn this morning. It didn't look like it was backing up to me.

Seriously now, Saturn was pretty bright, so it doesn't surprise me that we are getting close to opposition.

I have stopped pointing out the various planets to friends because no one seems to give a crap. Curiously, many of them do read horoscopes regularly (for fun, they say), yet they don't seem to be interested in viewing those planets that do the actual influencing of their romantic lives and personal finances.

 

[BowlOfRed]

Link to my Saturn article and graphics: www.CurtRenz.com/saturn

I notice the stellar magnitude graph has cusps instead of curves that I would have expected. Can you tell me what causes the cusps?

 

[Notrump]

I notice the stellar magnitude graph has cusps instead of curves that I would have expected. Can you tell me what causes the cusps?

That’s an astute observation, especially since it is only Saturn that exhibits that effect. It is due to the oppositional flash being enhanced by Saturn’s rings. We see the oppositional flash in a Full Moon which is twelve times brighter than a Half Moon. That is due to light being directly reflected to our eyes and minimal apparent shadowing. In the case of Saturn’s ring particles, they heavily shadow each other from all our viewing perspectives other than during opposition or conjunction relative to the Sun. Hence a noticeable spike in overall brightness at those times.

 

[BowlOfRed]

It is due to the oppositional flash being enhanced by Saturn’s rings.

Ahh, got it. Thank you!

I get to check off my "one new thing" box for today.

 

[Foster Zygote]

Saw Saturn this morning. It didn't look like it was backing up to me.

It's hard to hear the beeping from this far away.