Saturn reaches opposition on 21 September 2025, rising to a peak altitude of 34° as seen from the centre of the UK.
The planet is within Pisces, shining away with a slightly off-white hue at mag. +0.2 during opposition.
- Get our full guide on how to observe Saturn with a telescope
On 8 September, it can be seen close to a 98%-lit waning gibbous Moon shortly after both objects rise and the sky darkens, at around 21:00 BST (20:00 UT).
Seeing Saturn's rings
If you had a chance to catch a view of Saturn through a telescope in August month, you would have seen the rings were narrow but obvious.
At the start of August, the planet’s southern pole was tilted towards Earth by 3.4°, so they appeared like a thin elliptical band around the centre of the globe.
However, by 1 September, the tilt angle will have reduced to 2.5° and the rings will be noticeably harder to see again.
Saturn underwent a ring plane crossing back in March 2025, but at the time it was poorly placed for observation.
The next isn’t due until 2038, but between 11 November and 8 December this year, Saturn will appear to wobble to a very narrow tilt angle of just 0.4°.
Although not a true ring plane crossing, that is narrow enough to resemble a crossing through smaller scopes.
Observing highlights in September
On 21 September, when Saturn reaches opposition, the tilt angle will be 1.8°. Such a narrow tilt continues to offer opportunities to see Titan and its shadow cross the planet’s globe.
At the end of September, Saturn remains at mag. +0.2 and, thanks to a slow westward drift, will have wandered across the border of Pisces back into neighbouring Aquarius.
Currently, Saturn and Neptune remain close to one another in the sky, lying 2.6° apart on opposition night, with Neptune located northeast of Saturn.
Saturn, September 2025 quick facts
- Best time to see: 21 September, 01:00 BST (00:00 UT)
- Altitude: 35°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
- Features: Rings, subtle atmospheric features, moons
- Recommended equipment: 150mm or larger
Share your Saturn observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.
This guide appeared in the September 2025 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine
