Earth Saturn Synodic Cycles

Saturn's Rings
Image credit: Cassini spacecraft NASA

The Cassini Mission

Saturn is closest to Earth at each synod during Earth's orbit around the Sun. This is of course the best time to see Saturn. Although how close is a function of where Saturn is in its own eccentric orbit. During Earth's 29.42-year orbit around the Sun, Earth and Saturn are closest near Saturn's perihelion (when Saturn is closest to the Sun during its orbit). Saturn's last perihelion occurred on July 3, 2003. The Earth-Saturn synod closest to Saturn's perihelion occurred on Dec 31, 2003 in mid-sidereal Gemini--thus the synod occurring when Saturn was closest to Earth. Saturn's next perihelion occurs on Dec 8, 2032.

Astrologically, the synods occurring around Saturn's perihelion are naturally more significant--those occurring now--as well as those occurring near Saturn's nodes.

Saturn's Ring Tilt
Image credit: Hubble - NASA

Due to Saturn's tilt and Earth's changing orbital position, Saturn's rings tilt in and out of view over time. Saturn's rings tilt out of view when they are edge-on as viewed from Earth. This is called Saturn's "ring plane crossing."

Saturn's rings are edge-on to the Sun two times during Saturn's 29.42-year orbit. Because Earth's orbit is relatively close to the Sun compared to the vast distance to Saturn, we see the edge-on view nearly at the same time from Earth. However, there may be one or three Saturn ring plane crossings each time (every 15 years). When there is one crossing, Earth and Saturn are on opposites sides of the Sun, thus not visible to us. When there are three crossings, the middle crossing occurs close to the Earth-Saturn synod, thus we can see the rings disappearing from view).

Saturn's next "ring plane crossing" occurs on Sept 4, 2009.

Saturn's North Pole Hexagon and Aurora
Image credit:
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Saturn's North Pole Hexagon and Aurora:
"This nighttime view of Saturn's north pole by the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer on NASA's Cassini orbiter reveals a dynamic, active planet at least 75 kilometers (47 miles) below the normal cloud tops seen in visible light. Clearly revealed is the bizarre six-sided hexagon feature present at the north pole." Full Story: NASA/JPL

Saturn's Hex is a quite fitting astronomical feature characteristic of Saturn's astrological quality. The nature of the Hex "6" is to fix, to concretize--hence the phrase "to put a hex on." See "The Unfoldment of Number" for the quality of "6" and how it unfolds in natural harmonics.