This page lists upcoming dates when Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will be at opposition, when the Earth is directly between that planet and the Sun. These are ideal dates for observation. When these planets are at opposition, they will be at their closest to Earth and the brightest for that year.

SATURN

Opposition: 2024 September 8.

Solar Conjunction: 2025 March 1.

LUNAR OCCULTATION

Saturn is occulted by the Moon during the early hours of 2024 Aug 21.This will be visible from the UK and details are given in the BAA Handbook.

RING INCLINATIONS

The following plot shows the inclination of Saturn’s rings to both the Earth and the Sun over the coming months as we head to the edge on phases next year. The rings will be edge on the the Earth on 2025 March 23  which occurs shortly after solar conjunction. The rings will be edge on to the Sun 0n 2024 May 6. The planet will be low down in the SE for north temperate latitude observers.

TITAN PHENOMENA

Titan will undergo a number of Transits, Shadow Transits, Eclipses and Occultations during this year. |The transits and shadow transits should be visible in small telescopes (75 to 100 mm aperture or above) under good conditions.

Similar phenomena occur for the satellites orbiting inside Titan’s orbit. However these require larger instruments to be detected.

The following events have been derived from WinJUPOS simulations. Event times should be considered to be approximate. They are also for mid event and take many minutes to complete.. Depending upon observer  longitude, some events will occur in daylight or when the planet is below the local horizon.

Titan Transits

Transits are across the southern hemisphere.

2024 June 14. Transit Ingress. 08:59 UT.

2024 June 14. Mid Transit. 11:09 UT. Rhea and shadow also in transit.

2024 June 14. Transit Egress. 13:13 UT.

2024 June 30. Transit Ingress. 07:50 UT.

2024 June 30. Mid Transit. 10:00 UT.

2024 June 30. Transit Egress. 12:10 UT.

2024 July 16. Transit Ingress. 06:30 UT.

2024 July 16. Mid Transit. 08:31 UT.

2024 July 16. Transit Egress. `10:25 UT.

2024 Aug 1. Transit Ingress. 05:18 UT.

2024 Aug 1. Mid Transit. 06:35 UT.

2024 Aug 1. Transit Egress. 07:47 UT.

2024 Feb 24. Transit Ingress. 12:38. Very close to the sun. Also with Shadow Transit. See below.

2024 Feb 24. Mid Transit. 15:14 UT

2024 Feb 24 Transit Egress. 17:45 UT.

Titan Shadow Transits

The shadow transits initially occur at the southern limb on Nov 4. The tracks subsequently move northwards across the southern hemisphere.

2024 Nov 4. Shadow Ingress. 21:21 UT. Very close to the Southern limb.

2024 Nov 4. Mid Shadow Transit. 21:54 UT.

2024 Nov 4. Shadow Egress. 22:41 UT. Very close to the Southern limb.

2024 Nov 20. Shadow Ingress. 19:51 UT.

2024 Nov 20. Mid Shadow Transit. 21:07 UT.

2024 Nov 20. Shadow Egress. 22:30 UT.

2024 Dec 6. Shadow Ingress. 18:38 UT.

2024 Dec 6. Mid Shadow Transit. 20:20.

2024 Dec 6. Shadow Egress. 22:14 UT.

2024 Dec 22. Shadow Ingress. 17:34 UT.

2024 Dec 22. Mid Shadow Transit. 19:34.

2024 Dec 22 Shadow Egress. 21:50 UT.

2025 Jan 7. Shadow Ingress. 16:34 UT.

2025 Jan 7. Mid Shadow Transit. 18:49 UT.

2025 Jan 7. Shadow Egress. 21:20 UT.

2025 Jan 23. Shadow Ingress 15:34 UT.

2025 Jan 23 Mid Shadow Transit. 18:06 UT.

2025 Jan 23. Shadow Egress. 20:50 UT.

2025 Feb 8. Shadow Ingress 14:41 UT.

2025 Feb 8 Mid Transit. 17:22 UT.

2025 Feb 8 Shadow Egress. 20:14.

2024 Feb 24. Shadow Ingress. 13:47. Very close to the sun. Also with Titan Transit. See above.

2024 Feb 24. Mid Transit. 16:40 UT

2024 Feb 24 Shadow Egress. 19:37 UT.

Titan Occultations

Occultation disappearances occur on the northern p. Limb.  Reappearances occur at the northern f. limn.

2024 June 6. Occultation Disappearance. 09:05 UT

2024 June 6 Occultation Reappearance. 13:09 UT

2024 June 22. Occultation Disappearance. 08:00 UT.

2024 June 22 Occultation Reappearance. 12:20 UT.

2024 July  8. Occultation Disappearance. 06:42 UT.

2024 July 8 Occultation Reappearance. 10:55 UT.

2024 July  24. Occultation Disappearance. 05:20 UT.

2024 July 24 Occultation Reappearance. 08:54 UT.

2024 Aug 9. Occultation Disappearance. 04:12 UT.

2024 Aug 9. Occultation Reappearance. 06:04 UT.

2025 Jan 31. Possible Partial Occultation at N. limb. Mid Occultation at ~ 14:14

2025 Feb 16. Occultation Disappearance. 12:23 UT. followed by eclipse (see below) Close to the Sun.

TITAN ECLIPSES

Eclipses occur Nf. the planet.

2024 Oct 27. Eclipse. 22:38 UT. (This eclipse may be a partial and the time given is for approximately mid eclipse)

2024 Nov 12. Eclipse Disappearance. 19:57 UT.

2024 Nov 12. Eclipse Reappearance. 22:37 UT.

2024 Nov 28. Eclipse Disappearance. 18:45 UT.

2024 Nov 28. Eclipse Reappearance. 22:12 UT.

2024 Dec 14. Eclipse Disappearance. 17:43 UT.

2024 Dec 14. Eclipse Reappearance. 21:45 UT.

2024 Dec 30. Eclipse Disappearance. 16:39 UT.

2024 Dec 30. Eclipse Disappearance. 16:39 UT.

2025 Jan 15. Eclipse Disappearance. 15:40 UT.

2025 Jan 15, Eclipse Reappearance. 20:31 UT.

2025 Jan 31. Eclipse Disappearance. 14:44 UT. Preceded by a partial occultation at the Northern limb. See above  Low after sunset.

2025 Jan 31. Eclipse Reappearance. 19:52.

2025 Feb 16.Eclipse Reappearance. 19:09. Preceded by an Occultation Reappearance (see above). Close to the Sun.

MUTUAL SATELLITE PHENOMENA

Predictions for mutual satellite phenomena have been generated by  Barry Leggett and can be found by clicking on the following link..

Mutual Phenomena Saturns moons__ 24-26 (2) Barry Leggett PDF

NEPTUNE

Opposition: 2024 September 21.

URANUS

Opposition: 2024 November 17.

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