Saturn's night is coming. Tomorrow, July 9th, the ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and at its brightest, visible in the sky all night long. The giant planets, along with the Moon, are the stars of this astronomical summer. After Jupiter's opposition on June 10th, it's Saturn's turn. On July 9th, the planet will be 1,351,000,000 kilometers from Earth and in opposition, "that is, in a position opposite to that of the Sun," said Paolo Volpini of the Italian Amateur Astronomers' Union (UAI). Consequently, he added, "when the Sun sets, the planet rises, remaining visible all night" and will be in its best visibility. This is an unmissable opportunity to observe the splendid rings surrounding it with good binoculars or a small telescope. "In the early evening," Volpini explained, "you can look for the planet on the eastern horizon, among the stars of the Sagittarius constellation. Then, during the central hours of the night, it will tend to move southward." Amateur astronomers have organized public observations throughout Italy to observe it on July 9th and the following evenings, including in Campiglia Marittima in the province of Livorno, Rocca di Papa in the province of Rome, Castione della Presolana (Bergamo), Syracuse, and Montecalvo Irpino (Avellino). Those interested in participating can consult the website reteastrofili, which publishes the complete calendar of all the events. Saturn will then "give way" to Pluto, which will be in opposition on July 14th and will be visible in the same area of the sky, that is, among the stars of Sagittarius. However, observing the dwarf planet located at the edge of the Solar System will require slightly more powerful telescopes, which are still accessible to amateur astronomers.
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