Saturn reaches opposition on 27 August 2023 and throughout the month, the view of the ringed planet has been excellent.
On 1 August, Saturn reached its highest position under relatively dark skies, a situation that only improves throughout the month.
At its highest, it appears 25° up as seen from the centre of the UK.
Although still rather low, this is a big improvement over recent years and under good seeing should allow decent views of the planet and its rings.
In this guide we'll reveal how to make the most of Saturn at opposition in August 2023.
Read our guides to observing Saturn through a telescope and how to photograph Saturn's rings.
At opposition, Saturn will shine at magnitude 0.3.
A few days before opposition, Saturn's rings should appear to exhibit a subtle brightening, caused by what’s known as the opposition effect.
When viewing Saturn away from opposition, the shadows cast by the myriad of ring particles are visible.
At opposition, the shadows are reduced to a minimum, making the rings appear brighter.
The opposition effect brightening continues until opposition.
Afterwards, the rings slowly dim back to their normal brightness over the course of a number of days.
During August, the planet’s axis is tilted towards Earth by a little over 8°, the north pole being the one tilted towards us.
The rings are tilted similarly and appear relatively thin as a result when viewed through the eyepiece.
August’s relatively short nights mean that Saturn is visible all night long throughout the month.
A just-past-full Moon sits close to the planet on the nights of 2 and 3 August.
On the evening of 31 August, a second full Moon occurs.
This will sit really close to Saturn and after both objects rise, Saturn appears 3.3° northwest of the Moon’s centre.
How to see the planets in August 2023
Saturn
- Best time to see: 27 August, from 01:18 BST (00:18 UT)
- Altitude: 25°
- Location: Aquarius
- Direction: South
- Features: Subtle banded atmosphere, rings, moons
- Recommended equipment: 75mm or larger
Mercury
- Best time to see: 1 August, 30 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 2° (very low)
- Location: Leo
- Direction: West
An evening planet, badly placed as it reaches greatest eastern elongation on 9 August when it shines at mag. +0.4 and sets 40 minutes after sunset. Its position deteriorates further throughout August.
Venus
- Best time to see: 31 August, from 40 minutes before sunrise
- Altitude: 8° (low)
- Location: Cancer
- Direction: East
Venus is technically an evening object during the first half of August, but it isn’t visible as it sets before the Sun. It reaches inferior conjunction on 13 August when it lines up with the Sun, passing 7.7° south of the Sun’s centre. Its phase decreases from 5% on 1 August to 0.9% on 13 August.
To see Venus at this time, it needs to be located during the day. Great care is needed due to the proximity of the Sun. It is not safe to view visually; a camera should be used. After inferior conjunction, Venus re-emerges into the morning sky and should become visible again from the start of the last week in August. By 31 August, mag. –4.3 Venus rises 1 hour 50 minutes before sunrise.
Mars
- Best time to see: 1 August, 50 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 2° (very low)
- Location: Leo
- Direction: West
At the start of August, Mars shines at mag. +1.8 but is very hard to see, low above the western horizon as the sky darkens. A slender 5%-lit waxing crescent Moon sits 2.8° right and slightly up from Mars on 18 August, but even seeing the Moon will be challenging!
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 31 August, from 04:45 BST (03:45 UT)
- Altitude: 51°
- Location: Aries
- Direction: South
A brilliant morning planet shining at mag. –2.3 in southern Aries. Against a dark sky, Jupiter reaches 23° altitude on 1 August, but by the end of the month this improves greatly, reaching an altitude of almost 50° as seen from the centre of the UK. The last quarter Moon appears nearby on the morning of 8 August.
Uranus
- Best time to see: 31 August, 04:00 BST (03:00 UT)
- Altitude: 47°
- Location: Aries
- Direction: Southeast
On 1 August, mag. +5.8 Uranus reaches 20° altitude under dark skies, 9.1° east-northeast of mag. –2.2 Jupiter. As they rise, a 44%-lit waning crescent Moon sits 1.5° north of Uranus just before midnight BST on 8 August.
By the end of August, Uranus reaches 50° altitude under darkness, Jupiter closing the gap between both worlds. Shining at mag. –2.5, Jupiter sits 7.6° west-southwest of mag. +5.7 Uranus on 31 August.
Neptune
- Best time to see: 31 August, 02:20 BST (01:20 UT)
- Altitude: 35°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
Neptune reaches 35° altitude when due south, under darkness from mid-month onwards. At mag. +7.8, optical assistance is required.
This guide originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
