Saturn will be in its prime for viewing on July 9th

On July 9th Saturn will be in its annual prime for viewing. This is because it will reach its closest point in its orbit around Earth, coined its perigee. Saturn is the last planet (in order from the sun) to be visible to the naked eye, giving it a rich background of cultural influence and mythology. At over a light hour away from the sun, the gas giant delicately sits roughly 8.5 astronomical units away from Earth (an astronomical unit is the distance between Earth and the sun). The planet alone could fit nine Earths across it making it the second largest in the solar system. Aside from its beautiful rings, Saturn sports over 60 moons, some of which have conditions that may be suitable for life. These include the moons Enceladus and Titan. So make sure to wave hi to any lifeforms that could be observing you while that meager little dot traces its way across our sky.

To figure out how to observe Saturn from your location click here.