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In terms of astronomy, Opposition means a planet is opposite the sun. So, for instance, the planets with orbits inside Earth's orbit (Mercury and Venus) can't be in Jupiter opposition. But the planets orbiting outside Earth's orbit – Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune – all can.

"August 2021 is perhaps the best time this year to enjoy viewing Jupiter and Saturn Opposition, as both planets reach opposition this month," NASA noted. The two planets are also near each other in the sky, and we have directions below on where to find them.

A webinar by SPACE India was conducted on 19 August 2021 to highlight the importance of Jupiter opposition Saturn. The gas giant planet will be in opposition today (Aug. 19), meaning it is directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky.

Jupiter opposition also makes its closest approach of the year to Earth during opposition. The planet will appear at magnitude -2.9, well within naked-eye range and outshining any star in Earth's sky except, of course, for the sun.

On August 1 and 2, Saturn will be in opposition, meaning the Earth will be located between the ringed planet and the sun.

This is when the outer planet will be at its most luminous, making for a brilliant night sky view.Don’t worry if your place has cloudy weather at the beginning of August because Saturn will remain bright in the sky for the rest of August month.

 Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun, and it would take nine piles of earth to span the diameter of the gaseous planet, according to NASA -- and that's not including the rings.

 

 Live observation of Jupiter and Saturn by Space India

Astronomy courses by SPACE India included live observation of Saturn and Jupiter observation using Dobsonian Telescope, 50mm telescope, and Gso telescope. 

Space camps also provided the knowledge to observe such amazing celestial events using astronomy types of equipment. You should also gear up yourself for the event by keeping your astronomy equipment updated.

"Opposition does technically have a precise moment when the sun, Earth, and the planet line up. But in practice, it's better to think of it as a period of time, usually about a month," said NASA.

The space agency suggested this could be the best time this year for viewing Jupiter and Saturn Opposition. The annual opposition typically means a planet is brighter than usual, but the difference will hardly be noticeable, given how far out Jupiter, and especially Saturn, orbit.

How to See Jupiter and Saturn

What will be visible? With the unaided eye, Saturn will appear somewhat brighter than normal, but most casual observers won't notice much of a change at all. However, with binoculars or a small telescope — and good seeing — you'll have the best chance all year to catch some really interesting detail.

Even with binoculars, you can get a sense of the rings. With a decent, small telescope — a 4-inch reflector, for example — the detail should pop out — including a big gap in the middle of the ring system. If you're lucky enough, you can also catch a glimpse of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

Saturn will be at its best for viewing for a few weeks. Many astronomical events are a one-shot deal. Cloudy skies, poor seeing or failure to set a wake-up alarm, and they are missed altogether.

Not so for Saturn's (or Jupiter's) opposition. You have got a few weeks and all night to see Saturn at its best. More advanced amateur astronomers can capture some really stunning images of Saturn Opposition for weeks now as opposition approaches. Typically, these backyard stargazers "stack" the clearest images they can get to achieve the best results.

When can you witness Jupiter opposition?

After Saturn's opposition on 2 August, get ready for (Jupiter opposition date 2021)Jupiter opposition on 19-20 August 2021. It is a superb time to start your astrophotography journey if you haven’t started yet. Buy a simple telescope and start with your phone camera

Jupiter's opposition will be a more exciting event as it is visually dynamic than Saturn, and when it is closer to Earth, these features can become more apparent.

"If you don't have your own telescope — or if the one you own is on the diminutive side of astronomical instrumentation — it might be worth seeking out a bigger scope, possibly through a local astronomy camp like SPACE India.

Larger telescopes can also help bring out color to help distinguish cloud bands on the surface of Saturn or the striking orange hue of Titan.

You may also see Saturn's other moons, such as Enceladus, Rhea, or Dione. These will appear to be points of light, like stars, within a couple of ring widths of the planet."

Jupiter& Saturn – Brightest Starlike objects

Using a telescope, Saturn, the golden bright star, can be located in the direction of the constellation Capricornus. We need not worry about exact times too much. We just need to be aware that in early August 2021 – Saturn is generally opposite the sun in Earth’s sky.

 In opposition, Saturn rises in the east around sunset, climbs highest up for the night around midnight, and sets in the west around sunrise. When opposite the sun, Saturn Opposition is visible all night and at its brightest seen from Earth.

 First, look for Jupiter, which is the brightest starlike object in the evening sky once Venus sinks below the western horizon after sunset. Saturn is not far from Jupiter, located along the same path the sun travels during the day (the ecliptic).

Saturn is the bright golden “star” a short hop to the west of Jupiter. Saturn lies in the direction of the constellation Capricornus and can be found there for the rest of 2021.

Jupiter opposition is also at opposition on August 19-20 along with Saturn opposition on 2 August 2021. Yes, the heavens are in order, and also in late August, the moon – full or nearly full – can help you find both Saturn and Jupiter.

Keep your astronomy equipment all set for observing and capturing the amazing celestial events. Be a part of Astronomy camps and clubs to stay connected with amateur astronomers. Share your knowledge with others by distributing information about such important celestial events.