15 Years Once, Titan's Shadow Of Crossing The Planet Saturn

Simulation of Titan's shadow crossing Saturn (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA Titan's shadow is at Saturn's highest point on September 20 at around 12.00 WIB. This is a rare phenomenon that occurs only every 15 years.

This is a golden opportunity for astronomers to witness the unique phenomenon of Saturn's largest moon. This phenomenon occurs because of the orbital mechanics that makes Titan's trajectory parallel to Earth.

Titan's shadow transit begins at 01.09 EDT or around 12.09 WIB. Launching from Space, a wide silhouette of umbra is seen on the top left of the planet's disk. This dark trail crosses Saturn's clouds for more than two hours.

To see this phenomenon, Consultant and Lecturer Planetarium Hayden Joe Rao stated that observers need a capable telescope. The telescope needed to have an 8-inch or more opening with an enlargement of 200X.

If you don't have a strong telescope, the observer doesn't need to be disappointed. Saturn will reach the opposition position on September 21 so that its object will appear the brightest and closest to Earth.

This is the perfect moment to observe the planet with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes. During opposition, Saturn will appear slightly larger through the telescope's eye lens.

Observers will have many opportunities to explore the subtle variations on the surface of planetary clouds. The larger telescope will provide a stunning view of Saturn's rings.

The Saturn ring will be seen as a bright line that splits the planet's disk. However, the fine structure on the ring may not be visible. This is because it is aligned with our view and makes it look thinner.