dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (05/15/85)
Today Earth passes Saturn in the race around the sun. More on Saturn at opposition -- after this. May 15 Saturn at Opposition The INNER solar system is that part of the sun's domain inside the asteroid belt. It contains the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and our own world, Earth. The OUTER solar system lies beyond the asteroid belt. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune reside in the outer solar system -- also the tiny double-planet Pluto. The worlds in the outer solar system now happen to lie in the same general direction in space -- all more or less in a bunch as they move around the sun. Moving faster, and on an inside track around the sun, Earth is now taking several months to pass up all the outer planets in turn. We passed Pluto last month and will pass Uranus, Neptune and Jupiter this summer in the endless race of the planets. And today -- Saturn. Earth today is traveling neck-and-neck with Saturn in the race around the sun. At this time, Saturn appears opposite the sun in our sky -- and we say this world is at opposition. Saturn is now rising when the sun sets -- a golden-tinted star-like object in the east in the evening -- rising to overhead at midnight -- and sinking in the west before sunrise. By the way, if you're out before sunrise looking for Saturn in the west, you might turn also toward the east -- toward the direction of the coming dawn. Before dawn Thursday morning, you'll see a pretty sight in the east -- two more worlds in the solar system -- Venus, near the waning crescent moon. Script by Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1984, 1985 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin