Saturn will be at its best on the night of October 4, when it reaches opposition. This is the point where Earth sits directly between the Sun and Saturn, making the ringed planet closest to us, brightest in the sky and visible all night long.

Through a small telescope, Saturn’s rings are a stunning sight. This season the rings appear nearly edge-on from our viewpoint, a rare alignment that happens roughly every 15 years. Even with binoculars, the planet shines as a steady golden point of light.

To spot it, look towards the eastern sky after sunset. Saturn will rise as the Sun sets and stay up until dawn.

A quick note for moon watchers: October’s full moon is the Hunter’s Moon, expected around October 25-26. The Harvest Moon already occurred on September 26, so don’t mix up the two autumn moons. Astronomy clubs in several Indian cities are planning public viewing sessions, weather permitting, for the opposition weekend.