Saturn Planet Viewing

[T & T]

Hi all
Could anyone please tell me when saturn will be higher up in the sky? At the moment there are buildings in the way and I cannot view it.

Thanks

[farklemairgle1]

Hi,

Unfortunately, Saturn is more of a winter object for the last and next few years. It's getting lower, not higher, each day now. It'll be well-situated in the evening sky again in January-February next year. If you're an early riser, it'll be well-situated in the 'wee hours of the morning (4-5 AM) around November.

- Richard

[gregorx2001]

Saturn was such a nice sight in the beehive last winter...in was incredible !

[babis3565]

Hi, And How About The Southern Location Of Europe (greece), Saturn Stiil Stunds Low In The Horizon? On Wich Oriontation And What Houre?

[Carlos_dfc]

The problem is that Saturn is currently getting closer to the Sun.
So it doesn't matter where you are, it is very low by the time the Sun sets, then sets itself soon after.
Because it's getting closer, it will be setting sooner, and sooner, after the Sun, as the year goes on.

Need to wait until it 'overtakes' the Sun, and starts to rise from the East, before the Sun - as time goes on, it gets further and further ahead of the Sun.
As farklemairgle says, it should be at a height worth viewing again, at 4am-5am, by about November.
It'll be at it's best (highest point at around midnight) in late March '09

Bear in mind though - Saturn appears to 'wobble' as seen from our viewpoint, which makes the rings appear to open and close, as seen from here.
At the moment the rings are closing down towards the 'edge-on' position - so will be getting tougher to see over the next coupla years, before they slowly start to open out again towards the next maximum - around 2016