Skywatchers can now find Saturn climbing above the eastern horizon at sunset and staying up through the night. It was at 8:29 a.m. EDT (12:29 GMT) on Oct. 4 that the ringed planet reached opposition, the point at which Earth lines up directly between the Sun and Saturn.
That alignment puts Saturn at one of its closest points to Earth during the year, roughly 784 million miles, or 1.26 billion kilometers, away.

What to look for
Shining at about magnitude 0.3 — on par with some of the brightest stars — Saturn is now at its brightest for the year. Look for a steady, non-twinkling point of pale yellow, cream-white light in the constellation Cetus, the Whale.

You won’t need binoculars or a telescope to see the planet itself.

Bring a telescope for the rings
The rings are another matter: even a small telescope is needed to make them out. The days after opposition remain good for viewing, and experts recommend clear skies and dark locations far from city lights.