when is Saturn at it's Zenith?

[Robert_T]

Hi All, with the latest flurry of Saturn images I'm tempted to rise up to the morning challenge. I don't have a planetarium program so can anyone tell me what time (UT etc) Saturn is as high up as it gets?

thanks muchly

[matt]

Rob

If you're thinking of tomorrow morn...around 5am here in Canberra... about 4am there is Brisvegas...

but that's when it's crossing the meridian and sun-up is also occurring.

So you might want to try about 3am there in Brizzy. It's only a degree or so off its max altitude about then anyway.

It's only climbing to about 40 degrees here in Canberra this year

[Robert_T]

Ta Matt:thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

Not a good apparition this year. Meridian crossing here tonight is about 03:45 with Saturn at 49 deg .

[erick]

Sorry to be stuck at "Astronomy 101" but why "Not a good apparition"? What is good? - Closer to the Zenith? Why? - less atmosphere to see through?

[[1ponders]]

Yes closer to the zenith is much better. The lower down a planet is the more atmosphere we have to look through and the more affected by seeing and transparency.

Saturn will improve over the next years until, I think, Midnight June 25th 2018 will be the best we will get saturn for some time. It will be 85 deg 45 min above the northern horizon in Sagitarius. It's altitude will then start to decrease again

[swannies1983]

Noted in 2018 diary ;)

[iceman]

It's the best time right now, Robert.. the early morning seeing is usually much better than late at night.

Get up and get into it!

I've been getting up at 3am, and by the time i'm ready and capturing avi's, it gives me an hour between 3:20am and 4:20am to hope for some good seeing :)

[iceman]

49deg Paul! I'd be happy with that ;)

[matt]

looxury!!!!!!