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Get your field glasses out ! On Saturday ( Jan. 4 ) , skywatchers in the U.K. and most of westerly and Central Europe will be able to see Saturn fly behind the crescent lunar month — an event known as a lunar eclipse . There are only two lunar occultations of Saturn in 2025 , so you wo n’t want to lose this stunning event .

To get the unspoiled viewing experience , choose a location that ’s away from unreal light and allow about half an hour for your eyes to aline to the dark .

an illustration of Saturn

There will be a lunar occultation of Saturn on Jan. 4 in Europe.

Saturn is very bright , so you could easy view it with your naked optic . However , it ’s best to utilise a pair ofgood binocularsor abackyard telescopeso you may see Saturn as it grazes the border of the moonshine . opera glasses or a telescope will allow you to see the moonlight ’s crater in sharp relief , and you ’ll even be able to spot Saturn ’s ringing and moons .

On Jan. 4 , the moon will be a wax crescent , about19 % illuminated . The synodic month and Saturn will be close together all nighttime , so they will rise and set around the same time . The rising and fix time will vary slenderly depending on your localisation . you may use apps like Stellarium or sites likeTime and Dateto see when the moon and the major planet will rise and set in your exact fix .

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Saturn will vanish behind the unlighted part of the moon around 5:15 p.m. GMT , and will emerge from behind the illuminated part of the Sun Myung Moon around 6:30 p.m. GMT . However , these times will alter depending on your precise fix . you could enter your location in the sidebar onIn - the - Sky , which will tell apart you a more precise fourth dimension .

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The lunar occultation of Saturn will be visible throughout the U.K. and most of westerly and Central Europe , as well as in parts of Northern Europe and Northern Africa . This mapshows the countries where this lunar occultation will be visible .

Although the lunar occultation of Saturn wo n’t be visible across the ball , you will still be able-bodied to see the connective of the lunar month and Saturn if you pretermit the lunar eclipse . Look for Saturn and the Sun Myung Moon in the southwesterly sky . The moon will be about 30 grade above the skyline .

The next lunar occultation will be in February ; it will be visible from uttermost northerly latitude , parts of Russia and easterly Asia . After that , thenext easily visible lunar eclipse of Saturn will be in 2037 .

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