♄ Saturn today
Saturn today (2026-05-01): apparent position RA 9.30°, Dec 1.64°, 10.322 AU from Earth, magnitude 1.07. Computed live via VSOP87D.
♄ Saturn at 2026-05-01T08:18:50Z UTC
Apparent equatorial coordinates (geocentric)
| Right Ascension (RA): | 9.297046° (00:37:11) |
| Declination (Dec): | 1.643671° |
| Ecliptic longitude (lambda): | 9.188767° |
| Ecliptic latitude (beta): | -2.172573° |
| Mean obliquity: | 23.435867° |
Heliocentric position (Sun at center)
| Longitude L (helio): | 5.978580° |
| Latitude B (helio): | -2.365336° |
| Distance R (helio): | 9.481424887 AU |
| Distance (km): | 1,418,400,974 km |
Time scales
| UTC: | 2026-05-01 08:18:50 |
| JD UTC: | 2461161.846415 |
| JD TT: | 2461161.847283 |
| Delta T: | 75.075 s |
| tau (J2000 millennia): | 0.026329493 |
About Saturn
The position above was computed with the VSOP87D theory (Bretagnon & Francou 1988), the standard analytical theory of IMCCE/Bureau des Longitudes. Values are apparent geocentric, with iterative light-time correction (3 passes), ecliptic-to-equator conversion via mean obliquity (Meeus Eq. 22.2), and freely available through open source.
Typical precision: 1-3 arcsec in RA/Dec for the 1900-2100 window, with controlled degradation up to ~arc-min at the 4000 BC and 3000 AD extremes. For maximum precision, use JPL Horizons. See the precision page for numerical validation.
Other planets
See methodology, sources, precision, planets hub.