'Don't Miss This Time or Wait 50 Years' Close Approach of Moon and Saturn Observable on Night of 8th

The Gwacheon National Science Museum (Director Han Hyeong-ju) announced that it will hold a "Moon-Saturn Close Approach Special Observation Event" at 7 p.m. on the 8th.

The close approach of the Moon and Saturn is a rare phenomenon. According to the Gwacheon National Science Museum, the distance between the Moon and Saturn during this close approach is 0.3 degrees. Since the apparent diameter of the full moon (the apparent diameter of a celestial body as seen from Earth) is 0.5 degrees, the Moon and Saturn are positioned closer to each other than the apparent diameter of the full moon.

The Gwacheon National Science Museum explained that this Moon-Saturn close approach is the closest in 50 years since February 4, 1974, based on what can be observed with the naked eye in Seoul. The next time the Moon and Saturn will appear as close as this will be on August 20, 2075.

The Moon-Saturn close approach occurs at more than 40 degrees in the southern sky, so it can be easily observed with the naked eye if there are no tall mountains or buildings. With binoculars or a wide-field telescope, both the Moon and Saturn can be seen in the same field of view. If you observe Saturn with a high-magnification telescope, you can see Saturn’s rings and its largest moon, Titan.

Han Hyeong-ju, director of the Gwacheon National Science Museum, said, “This is a great opportunity to witness the Moon-Saturn close approach astronomical phenomenon, which can only be seen once or twice in a lifetime.”