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Harvest Moon Aligns With Saturn This Weekend

Public observatories in Singapore are hosting telescope nights to view the pairing ahead of Saturn’s opposition on October 4.

Overview

  • The Harvest Moon will appear close to Saturn on Sept 25–26, with the planet at its nearest apparent separation to the moon on Sept 26.
  • Saturn should be visible to the naked eye in clear skies but a telescope is required to resolve its rings and binoculars or a telescope are needed to spot much fainter Neptune.
  • Science Centre Singapore and the Science Centre Observatory will run Celestial Nights viewing sessions, and Jurong Lake Gardens’ Water Lily Pavilion will offer telescope access from 9 p.m. on Sept 25 and 26.
  • The full moon reaches peak illumination at 12:49 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the best public views occurring just after local sunset when the moon rises in the east.
  • Saturn reaches opposition on Oct 4, which will make the planet appear brighter and larger and provide an even better viewing opportunity later in the season.