Good news for stargazers and amateur astronomers in Palawan! Saturn — the second largest planet in the solar system, will be visible on Earth from 7:06 p.m. on July 9 up to 4:49 a.m. on July 10.
Local Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) chief Sonny Pajarilla said that Saturn will be located at a position opposite the Earth at 1:00 a.m. on July 10 based on their astronomical diary.
However, cloudy skies may cover the image of Saturn particularly in Palawan, he said.
“Halos sa isang taon meron ‘yong closest sya, nakikita naman talaga ‘yan sya. Kasi yong kanyang angles at ang pag-ikot din ng earth, hindi naman yan talaga matatakpan nagkakaroon lang na yong gabi halimbawa, closest sya kaya lalo nagiging visible,” he said.
Saturn will be visible because it is steady and reddish compared to the characteristics of stars with white or bluish color, he said.
Pajarilla pointed out that planets appear big in the sky if they come close to Earth.
But if one wants to closely observe the details and features of Saturn tomorrow, one needs a “Hubble telescope”, which is only available at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City.
