Saturn’s two-toned moon Iapetus is now passing south of the ringed planet, making this satellite easier than usual to find.

| Published: October 22, 2026

On October 22, Iapetus is just past superior conjunction, located close to Saturn. Only moons brighter than 11th magnitude are shown. Credit: Stellarium/Oleg Pluton

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October 21: Catch early-morning Orionids

Saturn’s strange, two-faced moon Iapetus orbits on a wide path that it takes nearly 80 days to complete. During that time, it slowly rotates in synchrony with its orbit, brightening and fading by up to two magnitudes, depending on which hemisphere is facing Earth.

Tonight, Iapetus is just past superior conjunction, sitting south of Saturn and glowing at 11th magnitude. It is visible with a telescope. Saturn is already well-positioned soon after darkness falls, reaching a height of roughly 30° above the eastern horizon by 8 P.M. local daylight time.…