We still get transits of Titan’s shadow across Saturn for a few more months — catch this one early in the morning.
Saturn’s moon Titan throws its shadow onto the planet’s disk twice this month. Note that while 13th-magnitude Mimas and its shadow are also transiting at the same time on July 18, they will likely be invisible. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly
- Titan’s shadow crosses Saturn’s cloud tops starting around 2:50 A.M. EDT.
- The transit lasts over two hours, with the shadow’s midpoint around 4:30 A.M. CDT.
- Titan itself remains visibly separate from Saturn during the event.
- Observe before sunrise to avoid interference.
Titan’s shadow transits the cloud tops of Saturn this morning, beginning around 2:50 A.M. EDT. At that time, Saturn (in the constellation Pisces) should be above the horizon for most of the U.S., with the Last Quarter Moon a good distance away, straddling the border of Pisces and Aries.
Saturn, at magnitude 0.9, is the brightest object in its vicinity, below the Circlet of Pisces. Center it in your telescope and note how Titan itself is still some 20” from the planet’s northeastern limb, where its shadow will appear. It’s a long transit, with the shadow reaching roughly midway across the saturnian disk around 4:30 A.M. CDT, as the East Coast is now losing its view to the sunrise. The shadow continues across for more than two hours and leaves the northwestern limb as dawn is breaking for those along the western coast of the U.S. Make sure to keep an eye on the time and stop your observations several minutes before sunrise.
You’ll note that the entire time, Titan remains well away from the planet — it will appear to pass well north of the ringed world during daylight, around noon Eastern daylight time. The moon won’t appear to transit Saturn from our point of view until later this year.
Sunrise: 5:47 A.M.
Sunset: 8:25 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:08 A.M.
Moonset: 2:25 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (42%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.