Saturn will shine just above the crescent moon this weekend. Here’s how to see it.

Early risers will get an opportunity to see lovely Saturn shining simply above a slim waning crescent moon this week.

To identify the spectacular ringed planet dangling over the moon, look simply above the east-southeast horizon about an hour earlier than dawn on Sunday, April 16.

The crescent moon might be simply 17% illuminated because it wanes towards changing into a brand new moon on April 20. That is a good time to see “Earthshine” on the darkish limb of the moon. This daylight mirrored from our planet makes the darkish lunar floor seen to the bare eye, although it appears to be like greatest via a pair of fine stargazing binoculars. With a telescope, Saturn’s rings ought to be seen.

To identify Saturn, look simply 5 levels above the moon. The ringed planet is rising two minutes earlier every morning in comparison with dawn, based on When the Curves Line Up (opens in new tab), a skywatching web site run by astronomy educator Jeffrey Hunt. Saturn has been touring farther from the solar from our perspective after its photo voltaic conjunction on Feb. 16, however Saturn continues to be tough to see in twilight.

The darker the night time sky, the better it ought to be to see Saturn with the bare eye. Based on NASA (opens in new tab), the moonrise, at 4:45 a.m. EDT, begins a 45-minute window when the sky might be darkish sufficient to simply see Saturn. You may test the precise occasions of Saturn-rise, moonrise and dawn on your location (opens in new tab) after which use the moon as a information to discovering Saturn.

You also needs to have the ability to glimpse Saturn and the crescent moon the morning earlier than and after their shut conjunction. Earlier than dawn on Saturday, April 15, the crescent moon might be 27% illuminated and shine about 10 levels to the fitting of Saturn. On Monday, April 17, the moon might be simply 10% lit and barely seen about 10 levels to the decrease left of Saturn.

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