SkyEye

The upper chart shows the path of Saturn across the background stars over the course of the year. Stars to magnitude +8.5 are shown. The white circles represent the planet on the first day of the month and are scaled according to apparent magnitude. The faint paths before the first circle and after the last circle represent the planet's positions in December of last year and January of next. In general, the planet moves from right to left except when it's in retrograde and proceding in the opposite direction.

The lower chart shows how the appearance of Saturn changes over the year. Below each image is listed the date, the apparent magnitude, the apparent diameter of the disk (in arc-seconds), the geocentric distance (in au) and the opening angle of the rings. Note that the tilt of Saturn's rings varies subtly throughout the year.

Saturn opens 2026 in the constellation of Aquarius but quickly moves into Pisces, spending the rest of the year passing between Pisces and the nonzodiacal constellation of Cetus. The planet is visible in the evening sky for the first three months before undergoing conjunction in late March. The final leg of a triple conjunction in right ascension with Neptune takes place in February, along with a single conjunction in ecliptic longitude. Venus, the evening star, also comes to call before the ringed planet's appointment with the Sun. Saturn reappears in the morning sky in April and is passed by both Mercury and Mars. The rings are at their most open in July, about the time Saturn begins to rise before midnight. Opposition occurs in early October. The Moon remains distant from the planet, never approaching closer than 3.8°.

All times and dates are in UT with the time given to the nearest hour unless otherwise indicated. Positions are geocentric apparent places and referred to the true equator and equinox of date.