Spot Iapetus Near Saturn in the Sky Today, July 1

Visible in the early-morning sky today, Saturn’s moon Iapetus is positioned just 1.4′ due south of Saturn, making it easier to spot than usual. This moon, typically located far east or west of Saturn, is now closer to the planet.

For the best chance of viewing, look about two hours before sunrise when the sky is dark. Saturn, a 1st-magnitude object, can be found in the southeast, around 30° high in the sky, in southern Pisces. By focusing your telescope on Saturn, you can see Iapetus less than 2’ south of the planet and Titan, a brighter moon, roughly the same distance east of Saturn. With a larger telescope, you might also spot Enceladus, located just northeast of Saturn’s equator, north of the rings. Enceladus may be challenging to see due to its proximity to the bright rings, but the thin appearance of the rings could help in spotting it. Enceladus disappears behind the planet around 5 A.M. EDT. Tethys, another moon, reappears from behind Saturn’s southeastern limb around 4:35 A.M. EDT.

Sunrise: 5:35 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:11 P.M.
Moonset: 12:02 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (39%)

*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.

According to the source: Astronomy Magazine.