BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
Saturn has been observed since ancient times by cultures across the globe, including the Babylonians and Greeks, who named it after their god of agriculture and wealth. They could see it as a bright 'wandering star' without telescopes, though its rings remained a mystery until Galileo observed them in the early 17th century.
Stories that explain this
Saturn will be brightest this year on October 4, visible all nightRelated explainers
Why are Saturn's rings so bright? How far is 1.26 billion kilometres? Why is opposition special for viewing? Why Darlington first? Europe's first daily pill? What is a 'first lady'? What is the First Lady's role? What is a 'first leg' in football?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under F →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.