No planet in the Solar System captures the imagination of stargazers quite like Saturn.
The second largest planet in the system after Jupiter, the ringed gas giant has captivated people for thousands of years.
While it is usually visible from Earth, the planet is set to appear bigger and brighter than usual this weekend – even to those looking up at the sky without any special equipment.
This is due to a once-a-year occurence known as an ‘opposition’, which sees our planet line up between another planet and the sun.
For those looking up from here in the UK, the BBC Sky at Night, it is expected to be at its brightest at around 1.35am on Sunday (September 8) – meaning a potentially late Saturday night for those wanting to stay up to see it.
People with even fairly small telescopes may also be able to make out the planet’s iconic rings – which are never visible by the naked eye from Earth.
Titan, the largest of the planet’s 146 moons, may also be visible to those using telescopes according to Nasa, simply due to the sheer size of the satellite.
Titan is second largest moon in the Solar System after Ganymede and is in fact larger than the planet Mercury.
However, while these views may be unobstructed across hundreds of millions of miles of space, local factors may play in to whether you are able to fully appreciate the view – or even see it at all.
Light pollution, particularly in heavily built up areas, can prevent people from viewing the night sky properly.
Less well-built up areas are usually the best viewing points – particularly if higher ground is available.
Unfortunately, the British weather may also play a role in preventing you appreciating Saturn this weekend.
The Met Office has issued a 21-hour weather warning, with cloud cover and heavy rain forecast in some areas throughout the night.
