Saturn

Saturn, sixth planet from the sun, is the second largest planet in our solar system.

Related Topics: Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto 

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Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.

How to photograph the winter solstice 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn tonight

By Chelsea Gohd last updated

NASA has shared some helpful tips for how to photograph the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21, 2020.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.

Don't miss the winter solstice 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn tonight!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

This year, the planets will appear closer to each other than they have in centuries.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter as seen on Dec. 13, 2020, a week before their closest approach, when the two planets may appear as a single point of light.

Watch the winter solstice 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn with these webcasts

By Samantha Mathewson last updated

Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky today (Dec. 21) in an event astronomers call the "great conjunction," and you can watch it online with a host of webcasts.

A Google Doodle celebrating the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn and the solstice of Dec. 21, 2020.

Celebrate the winter solstice 'great conjunction' with this charming Google doodle

By Meghan Bartels published

Google treated internet searchers around the world to a pair of animated doodles celebrating the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn and the solstice on Dec. 21.

dec 21, 2020 great conjunction jupiter saturn

'Christmas star' 2020: Here's some fun facts about the 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn

By Joe Rao last updated

We are now closing in on the long-awaited night of Dec. 21, when Jupiter and Saturn will engage in their "great conjunction."

On Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear just one-tenth of a degree apart, in an event known as a "great conjunction." The planets will be visible to the naked eye when looking toward the southwest about an hour after sunset.

'Great Conjunction' 2020: NASA tips to see Jupiter and Saturn shine as a 'Christmas Star'

By Samantha Mathewson published

Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky on Dec. 21 in an event astronomers call the "great conjunction" marking the planets' closest encounter in nearly 400 years.

This sky map shows the crescent moon with Jupiter and Saturn as seen from New York City on Dec. 16, 2020, at 6 p.m. local time.

Jupiter and Saturn swing by the moon this week ahead of a 'Great Conjunction'

By Joe Rao published

Before the historic "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21, the planets will have a close encounter with the crescent moon on Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 16-17).

On Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear just one-tenth of a degree apart, or about the thickness of a dime held at arm's length, according to NASA. During the event, known as a "great conjunction," the two planets (and their moons) will be visible in the same field of view through binoculars or a telescope.

'Great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn will form a 'Christmas Star' on the winter solstice

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Jupiter and Saturn will have their closest encounter in almost 400 years on the solstice (Dec. 21).

On Dec. 21, sky gazers looking just above the horizon will see Saturn and Jupiter appearing very close to one another.

Saturn and Jupiter to almost 'kiss' this winter solstice

By Laura Geggel published

From Earth's perspective, Jupiter and Saturn will appear a moon's distance apart on Dec. 21.

Six images of Saturn's moon Titan that incorporate 13 years of data gathered by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Saturn's moon Titan has a weird organic chemical in its atmosphere

By Meghan Bartels published

Saturn's moon Titan just keeps getting weirder — and more tantalizing when it comes to scientists' hopes for life beyond Earth.

dec 21, 2020 great conjunction jupiter saturn

Get ready for the 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn

By Joe Rao last updated

During the "Great Conjunction" on Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be about one-tenth of a degree apart, their closest approach since 1623.

The moon, Jupiter and Saturn will form a triangle in the sky on the evening of Oct. 22, 2020.

Look up! The moon will pay Jupiter and Saturn a visit tonight

By Joe Rao published

Skywatchers will be treated to an eye-catching gathering in the south-southwest sky about an hour after sunset on Thursday (Oct. 22) — a large triangle formed by the moon, Jupiter and Saturn.

An artist's depiction of the Enceladus Orbilander mission concept.

If we want to find life on Saturn's moon Enceladus, we need to rule out Earthly hitchhikers

By Meghan Bartels published

Want to find life in an exotic corner of the solar system like Saturn's icy moon Enceladus?

An artist's depiction of the Enceladus Orbilander mission concept.

Where to next in the outer solar system? Scientists have big ideas to explore icy moons and more.

By Meghan Bartels published

If you had a few billion dollars and some of the most talented space scientists and engineers in the world, where would you go?

In these detailed infrared images of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, reddish areas indicate fresh ice that has been deposited on the surface.

Saturn's ocean moon Enceladus has fresh ice in unexpected place

By Elizabeth Howell published

Saturn's geyser-spewing moon Enceladus may be even more active than scientists had thought.

Researchers have proposed sending a submarine to explore the huge Saturn moon Titan's frigid seas of methane and ethane.

Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan

By Mike Wall published

Researchers have been crafting a concept mission that would send a submarine to Saturn's huge moon Titan, which sports lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons on its frigid surface.

The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of Saturn during its northern hemisphere summer on July 4, 2020.

Behold! Saturn has no summertime blues in this amazing Hubble telescope photo

By Meghan Bartels published

Can't get enough of summer? Saturn's northern hemisphere is also in the throes of the season, and the Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new photo of the ringed planet to celebrate.

A close-up view of Jupiter, taken one week after the planet reached opposition in June 2019, reveals detailed cloud bands — and Jupiter's moon Europa!

See Jupiter and Saturn at their brightest this week

By Joe Rao last updated

This week, Jupiter and Saturn appear at their very best, with Jupiter having just arrived at opposition July 14 and Saturn to reach its own opposition July 20.

The full moon, Jupiter and Saturn as seen on the evening of July 5, 2020 from Seattle.

Celestial fireworks: See Jupiter and Saturn with a 'Buck Moon' lunar eclipse this Fourth of July weekend

By Joe Rao published

Nature has its own fireworks in store this Independence Day weekend with a stunning full moon ornamented by two shining planets.

This false-color image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows Titan in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths.

Mystery solved: Odd bright patches on Saturn moon Titan are dry lake beds

By Mike Wall published

The features had puzzled scientists for more than a decade.