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Planets on Parade!

Mind Bending | June 1, 2018
Saturn Opposition

Barlow SkyWatch: Opposition Series Part 2
By Alan J Peche, Director, Barlow PlanetariumLast month, we learned that this summer the Earth will be passing Mars, Jupiter and Saturn causing what astronomers call an “opposition”. The opposition occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the opposition planet.

A planet that is at opposition will rise when the Sun sets and set when the Sun rises. As an added bonus, these oppositions will occur when the planets are the closest and the brightest to us on Earth. The Jupiter opposition occurred on May 8 and the Mars opposition will occur on July 27. This month, we look forward to the Saturn opposition.

June 27: Saturn Opposition

Earth will pass directly between Saturn and the Sun at 8:15 am on June 27, 2018. Saturn is slightly smaller and twice the distance as Jupiter. Saturn averages about 9.5 au from the Sun. At opposition, Saturn will be around 9 au from the Earth. As a reminder, an au is an is an astronomical unit and is about 93 million miles.

Saturn will be awesome through telescopes – the rings will be very distinct.

JUNE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS)/SATELLITE EVENTS

Please like the Barlow’s Facebook page to receive the latest timings and star charts.

TO GET A CURRENT SKYCHART

Visit the Skymaps link under the “Astronomy Resources” link at BarlowPlanetarium.org.

Each month, the Barlow Planetarium, Wisconsin’s first major planetarium, provides interesting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) topics for students of all ages.

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