Saturn today
Saturn is a steady yellowish point, easy to see with the naked eye. It reaches opposition about two weeks later each year and remains visible for many months around that date.
| Constellation | Pisces |
|---|---|
| When to look | Evening and most of the night |
| Elongation | 138.3° east of the Sun |
| Distance from Earth | 8.6591 AU · 1,295.4 million km |
| Light-time | 1 h 12 min |
| Motion against the stars | Retrograde |
| Ecliptic longitude seen from Earth | 8.63° · tropical Aries 8.6° |
| Ecliptic latitude seen from Earth | −2.65° |
| Distance from the Sun | 9.4217 AU · 1,409.5 million km |
| Heliocentric longitude and latitude | 12.64° · −2.44° |
See it in place: Saturn on its orbit, in the 3D heliocentric view, or above your own horizon on the all-sky disk.
Coming events for Saturn
Yes. Saturn is in retrograde motion until December 10, 2026. Dates are in Universal Time. Every sky event of the year is in the astronomy calendar 2026 and the calendar 2027.
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Pisces, then resumes its eastward motion. | |
| Conjunction with the Sun | Behind the Sun as seen from Earth, not observable. 10.378 AU from Earth. | |
| Retrograde motion begins | Stationary in Pisces, then moves westward against the stars. | |
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 8.326 AU from Earth (1,245.5 million km). | |
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Pisces, then resumes its eastward motion. | |
| Conjunction with the Sun | Behind the Sun as seen from Earth, not observable. 10.274 AU from Earth. | |
| Retrograde motion begins | Stationary in Aries, then moves westward against the stars. | |
| Opposition | Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 8.228 AU from Earth (1,230.8 million km). | |
| Retrograde motion ends | Stationary in Aries, then resumes its eastward motion. |
Saturn month by month
Position on the first day of each of the next twelve months, at 00:00 Universal Time.
| Date | Constellation | From the Sun | When to look | Distance (AU) | Motion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | Pisces | 119.2° east | Evening and most of the night | 8.896 | Retrograde |
| January 1, 2027 | Pisces | 88.0° east | Evening sky | 9.389 | Direct |
| February 1, 2027 | Pisces | 58.4° east | Evening sky | 9.876 | Direct |
| March 1, 2027 | Pisces | 33.0° east | Evening sky | 10.205 | Direct |
| April 1, 2027 | Pisces | 6.2° east | Not visible | 10.372 | Direct |
| May 1, 2027 | Pisces | 20.0° west | Morning sky | 10.311 | Direct |
| June 1, 2027 | Pisces | 46.3° west | Morning sky | 10.033 | Direct |
| July 1, 2027 | Pisces | 72.4° west | Morning sky | 9.609 | Direct |
| August 1, 2027 | Pisces | 100.7° west | Late evening until dawn | 9.101 | Direct |
| September 1, 2027 | Pisces | 130.9° west | Late evening until dawn | 8.643 | Retrograde |
| October 1, 2027 | Pisces | 161.7° west | All night | 8.370 | Retrograde |
| November 1, 2027 | Pisces | 164.7° east | All night | 8.356 | Retrograde |
How Saturn moves
Saturn orbits the Sun in 29.5 years and spends about two and a half years in each zodiac constellation. Earth overtakes it every 378 days.
Saturn is retrograde for about four and a half months each year, around opposition. Its distance from Earth changes little in proportion: from about 8 to 9 AU at opposition to 10 to 11 AU at conjunction.
A small telescope at 30× or more shows the rings. Their tilt as seen from Earth changes over the 29.5-year orbit: they were edge-on in 2025 and are slowly opening again.
Related definitions: opposition, conjunction, elongation, synodic period.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Saturn in the sky right now?
On November 12, 2026, Saturn is in the constellation Pisces, 138° east of the Sun: already up at nightfall and visible for most of the night. It is 8.6591 AU from Earth (1,295.4 million km), and its light takes 1 h 12 min to reach us.
How far is Saturn from Earth today?
Saturn is 8.6591 AU from Earth on November 12, 2026, that is 1,295.4 million km. Light takes 1 h 12 min to cover that distance.
When is the next opposition of Saturn?
On October 18, 2027. Opposite the Sun, visible all night. 8.326 AU from Earth (1,245.5 million km).
Is Saturn in retrograde?
Yes. Saturn is in retrograde motion until December 10, 2026.