Sunday evening, October 5, offers skywatchers a prime opportunity to spot one of the solar system’s most striking sights: Saturn, the ringed planet. Adding to the spectacle, the Moon—just one day shy of its Harvest Full Moon phase—will hover nearby, making the bright planet easier to locate.
Unlike Venus or Jupiter, Saturn doesn’t stand out with dazzling brilliance, nor does it boast the fiery hue of Mars. To the naked eye, it appears as a soft yellowish-white “star.” Around 8 p.m. local time, look toward the east-southeast horizon about a quarter of the way up the sky, and you should see it shining quietly in the night.
With the Moon positioned just above Saturn this Sunday, even casual observers can quickly identify the ringed planet. Clear skies offer a perfect chance to gather friends or neighbors and enjoy one of the season’s most memorable celestial displays.