Transit of Saturn from outer planets

A transit of Saturn across the Sun as seen from an outer planet (Uranus or Neptune) takes place when the planet Saturn passes directly between the Sun and the outer planet, obscuring a small part of the Sun's disc for an observer on the outer planet. During a transit, Saturn can be seen from the outer planet as a small black disc moving across the face of the Sun. Saturn's satellites could theoretically be seen at the same time, but their angular diameter would be less than 1", and they would therefore be very hard to distinguish.

Characteristics

The Saturn-Uranus synodic period is 45.360 23 years (16 567.82 days). The Saturn-Neptune synodic period is 35.869 89 years (13 101.47 days).

The mutual inclination of the orbits of Saturn and Uranus is 1.95°. The mutual inclination of the orbits of Saturn and Neptune is 0.97°.

Transits of Saturn from Uranus are quite rare. The angular diameter of the Sun from Uranus is about 1.7', however Saturn can be as far as a couple of degrees from the Sun at inferior conjunction. Coupled with a very long synodic period of more than 45 years, it takes long time to produce such a transit. The next one is on 8 April, 2669, and the last was on 18 July, 4635 BC.

Transits of Saturn from Neptune occur more frequently than those from Uranus, but they are still rare, again due to small angular diameter and long synodic period. Nevertheless, the coming one will take place on 29 May, 2061, and the last was on 26 April, AD 88.

Lists of transits (5000 BC – AD 10,000)

Transits of Saturn from Uranus[1]
Date and hour of the maximum Nature (Grazing or Central) Duration
18 July, 4635 BC Central 32 h 58 min
8 April, 2669 Central, see the image below
37 h 28 min



Transits of Saturn from Neptune[2]
Date and hour of the maximum Nature (Grazing or Central) Duration
26 November, 2460 BC at Grazing 4 h 35 min
6 May, 1886 BC Central 33 h 59 min
17 May, 487 BC Grazing 16 h 13 min
26 April, AD 88 Central 32 h 45 min
29 May, 2061 Central 30 h 08 min
6 October, 3459 Central 38 h 34 min
15 September, 5432 Central 35 h 38 min


References

  1. ↑ Transits of Saturn on Uranus; Fifteen millennium catalog 5 000 BC - 10 000 AD
  2. ↑ Transits of Saturn on Neptune; Fifteen millennium catalog 5 000 BC - 10 000 AD

See also

External links