September Is Your Chance to See Saturn and Neptune: Here's How

Take the chance in September to get outside and gaze at planets.

The Seeliger Effect, also called the opposition effect, also comes into play here.

Essentially, something will appear brighter when illuminated from behind the viewer.

In this case, the sun is behind the Earth and is illuminating Saturn.

Saturn entered opposition Sept. 7-8.

Neptune’s began Sept. 20-21.

But you’ll still be able to see them after those dates pass.

Technically, Saturn will be visible to the naked eye.

It’ll look like a bright star in the sky.

A telescope will help skygazers catch aglimpse of its famous rings.

It’s simply too far away to spot with the naked eye without some sort of assistance.

While it’s in opposition, you’ll have all night to find it.

The two planets won’t be too far apart from each other in the night sky.

Saturn will spend most of the month hanging out with the Aquarius constellation.

It’ll be hanging out in the Pisces constellation, which is right next door to Aquarius.

So you won’t need to look all over the sky to find both of them.

Once you find one, the other isn’t too far away.

Star Walk 2 is available oniOSandAndroidif you prefer to use your phone to find them.

When will Saturn and Neptune be in opposition again?

For Neptune, the answer is easy.

It’ll be in opposition again next year, approximately 48 hours later than it was this year.

Thanks to this, Neptune goes into oppositiononce every 367 dayson average.

It’ll continue to happen in the autumn for the next few decades.

Neptune will eventually be in opposition on Christmas Eve in the year 2066.

That means next year, Neptune and Saturn will be in opposition within two days of each other.