Viewing Saturn?

Question

Does anyone know when the best time to see Saturn is with a not-so-expensive telescope? I'm in Jacksonville, FL.

Thanks!

Answer 1

With a simple sky map, Saturn is easy to find right now.

It is currently in the constellation of Gemini, the Twins. Were we to use the popular tracing conceived by H.A. Rey, of "two matchstick men holding hands," Saturn is found between the legs of the twins.

Saturn is the telescopic showpiece of the night sky, thanks to its great ring system in all of its icy, glimmering elegance. In small telescopes, the rings surprise even veteran observers with their chilling beauty.

Any telescope magnifying more than 30x will show them. Even most inexpensive department store telescopes should do the job (though if you're thinking about buying a telescope, you'll want to learn more and become a discerning buyer -- there's a lot of junk on the market.)

Answer 2

As others have said, Saturn is now in the early morning sky, but located in Leo, not Gemini (Mars is in Gemini). Saturn is high enough to see by 5 a.m. local daylight time, provided you have a clear eastern horizon. You should be able to see the rings with anything over 25x, but the Cassini division in the rings is becoming a challenge because the rings are getting very narrow as Earth approaches the plane of the rings. In a little over a year, they will vanish completely for a few weeks!

It's worth getting up to see, because Saturn is currently very close to Venus and the star Regulus, a very pretty sight, so along with Mars you can view three planets in close proximity.

Answer 3

Yep, early morning in the eastern sky.
Even with a not- so- expensive telescope, you should be able to see the rings and planetary cloud banding.
Under the clearest of skies, you just might catch a glimpse of the Cassini Division!
Clear Skies!

Answer 4

Early morning in the eastern sky...