Saturn is pulling a stunt this weekend, which hasn’t happened since 2009: How to see

It’s not every day that the prominent features of our solar system disappear, but that’s exactly what happens on Saturn. On the weekend, Saturn’s gorgeous ring It almost disappears from view. There’s no need to worry. I’ll come back in a few weeks.

This phenomenon is caused by the optical illusion that occurs when stars are lined up. Saturn tilts at 26.73 degrees in orbit, while Earth tilts at 23.5 degrees and is very close to it. If the two planets are just side-by-side, the rings of Saturn are almost completely horizontal from the Earth’s point of view, almost annihilation of them.

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“As Saturn and Earth move around the Sun, we regularly find those rings at the edges,” explains Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. “The ring is so thin that you can’t see it when you see the edge-on (the ring).”

So anyone looking up at the sky this weekend will notice that the planet doesn’t look very Saturn without the trademark ring. However, even if you are using a powerful telescope, the ring will still appear. As shown in the graphics above, it appears that a thin line runs through the middle of Saturn.

How does Saturn’s ring disappear?

The main focus is on Saturn and Earth’s tilt. It’s like looking at paper. If you hold it horizontally to eye level, it will not actually be visible. Here, the Saturn ring It’s thinner than most people think.

“The Saturn ring is very thin,” says Schmol. “Even the thickest estimates made the ring a kilometer (about 0.5 miles). Saturn’s diameter is relatively very thin, with its diameter exceeding 116,000 km.”

According to NASASaturn’s ring averages about 30 feet tall over the entire length of the ring. In other words, it means when viewed from the side at about a distance 1.5 million kilometers (983,000 miles) and sometimes I look at the paper from the side.

The ring still looks technical. Those with a more powerful telescope may be able to see the lines protruding across Saturn. However, Saturn looks naked, as those with low-power telescopes may not see it.

When will the ring return?

This little heavenly dance peaks occur on weekends. So technically, the ring has already been like this for a week or two, and it remains difficult to see it enters April. By then, Saturn’s orbit will begin to tilt the ring again, and they will come back slowly and slowly, coming back next month or twice.

“Technically, the ring plane crossing is only for the moment when it comes to a complete advantage,” Schmoll said. “For a powerful telescope, we can see the ring right away. But with most backyard telescopes, we have to wait a few months to see it again.”

How rare is this event?

According to To NASAthis occurs on average every 13-15 years. However, it is not an exact science, as previous events occurred in 1980, 1995 and 2009.

“Saturn’s orbit was just under 30 years, so when that angle is right, there are two times in Saturn’s orbit,” says Dr. Schmol. “Sometimes, it happens when Saturn is on the other side of the Sun from us, making it difficult to see because the sun gets in the way.”

The next one is projected to come in 2038 or 2039, Schmoll said.