Sunday, March 23, 2025

Earth Crosses Saturn's Ring Plane (pre-dawn)

On Sunday, March 23, Earth's orbit will carry us from the north side to the south side of the plane defined by Saturn's rings, an event that happens every fourteen to seventeen Earth years. On that day, the planet's very thin rings will effectively vanish for a number of hours, leaving the planet as a simple, unadorned globe. During the days and weeks surrounding the crossing, the rings appear through backyard telescopes as a thin line drawn through Saturn. Unfortunately, this crossing will occur while Saturn is only 10 degrees from the pre-dawn sun and well below the slanted morning ecliptic for observers at mid-northern latitudes. Those viewing Saturn from mid-southern latitudes will have the best chance to see Saturn without rings, but the view will be
hampered by morning twilight and atmospheric turbulence and haze over the eastern horizon. The next ring plane crossing will be in October, 2038, when Saturn will be 28 degrees from the morning sun.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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