Saturn is the second biggest planet from our solar system, and it’s unique in plenty of ways. With an orbital period of 29 years, Saturn has the most moons from the solar system (82 discovered pieces), and let’s not also forget about the iconic rings of ice and rock.
However, Saturn is surely not the right destination for a cosmic journey. The planet is made almost entirely of gases, and its gravity would literally crush any human being that approaches its surface too much.
Saturn appears at its brightest until August 9
If you don’t have any other plans for the evenings of August, you’ll be able to admire Saturn in all its glory as it enters the cosmic scene of the night sky. The solar system’s second-largest planet will be at its closest possible distance from Earth, and it will imposingly dominate the night sky. It will only appear as another blue dot, but it’s more bright than most of the other dots.
Saturn also indirectly plays a significant role in the lifetime goal of finding an alternative to Earth where we could all move our luggage and gaming consoles. The planet is hosting Titan, one of the numerous moons of the gas giant. Titan is perhaps the most interesting cosmic object from all those numerous moons, as it provides plenty of hope that it can harbor life. Furthermore, Titan is the only moon from our solar system that possesses a dense atmosphere. It’s also the only known cosmic object, except for Earth, where clear evidence for stable bodies of surface liquid was found. And as water is a crucial component for all life forms from Earth, you can already get the full picture: visiting Titan one day becomes mandatory.
As for now, Saturn is more or less opposite the sun in the night sky. The planet rises in the east around sunset and sets in the west around sunrise.
