# Sky Watchers - Where is Saturn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832 "2004-04-02T02:25:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scoo8b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scoo8b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoo8b)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832/1 "2004-04-02T02:25:03Z")
I have used my TheSky program and I still can’t find it. I see the Moon and I see Jupiter right near it. I also see Mars in the West. The program says that Saturn should be somewhere in between the Moon and Mars. I don’t see a single bright spot in this area outside. And the ones that are somewhat bright, I look at through the telescope and I see no rings. I know I can see the rings of Saturn on my scope because I can see the moons of Jupiter and other, samller things. So where is Saturn in the sky?!? ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832/2 "2004-04-02T04:06:20Z")
Saturn isn’t going to be very bright right now, I don’t think. If you can find Orion, draw a line from Rigel through Betelgeuse, and keep going and you’ll find Saturn along that line. It’s near the feet of Gemini. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832/3 "2004-04-02T04:10:51Z")
You can see Jupiter’s moons? What kind of scope do you have and what did it cost? My b-day is the 10th and my wife still doesn’t know what to get me. That would be awesome! ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832/4 "2004-04-02T04:16:49Z")
You can see 4 of Jupiter’s moons with a good pair of 7x50 binoculars. You probably don’t want to jump into a telescope purchase too quickly. It takes a bit of research to find the right one. I know there was a thread on this not too long ago, you might want to do a search. ---
**Author:** ![Scoo8b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scoo8b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoo8b)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832/5 "2004-04-02T04:21:52Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > You can see Jupiter’s moons? What kind of scope do you have and what did it cost? My b-day is the 10th and my wife still doesn’t know what to get me. That would be awesome! Thanks drewbert, I’ll try that tomorrow. duffer, when I say I can see Jupiter’s moons, I just meant Jupiter was a bigger dot and it’s moons could be seen as smaller dots. I found it to be cool, but maybe you want something more?? Anyway, I have an Orion Observer 70mm Equatorial Refractor that cost $130 I think… ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sky-watchers-where-is-saturn/237832/6 "2004-04-02T07:25:51Z")
I can see the moons of Jupiter in binoculars, as long as they are held steady; if Jupiter were not there the moons would be at the limit of naked eye visibility. as far as Saturn goes it is relatively bright, in my opinion; brighter than Mars at the moment, anyway. * * * SF worldbuilding at [http://www.orionsarm.com/main](http://www.orionsarm.com/main)