How to spot Saturn this August/September #shorts

By Dr. Becky

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While you’re out watching the Perseids, or walking back from the pub this month, look out for Saturn rising in the East at around 11’o’clock. It will rise earlier and earlier as August goes on, so that by the start of September it will rise at 9’o’clock. Saturn has that yellowish tinge to it that helps you pick it out from the background stars. But if you’re not sure what you’re looking for I’ve got two tricks for you to spot Saturn. The first trick is to know that stars twinkle but planets don’t. That’s because the light from stars is a tiny pinprick, so any turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere disturbs the starlight and makes them twinkle. But the light from planets covers a larger area, so even if some light gets disturbed as it passes through the atmosphere, the planet light still looks more solid. The second trick is to use the Moon as a handy signpost for where to look. On the night of 3rd August into morning of the 4th, the just past half Moon will be above Saturn making it