The diagrams show the relative size of the planets during 2009 as seen from the Earth. All are shown on the same scale. Below each diagram is the date, magnitude, apparent angular diameter and for planets out to Jupiter the percentage sunlit as seen from the Earth. Saturn, Uranus and Neptune appear virtually 100% lit at all times. The apparent tilt of Saturn's north pole is also given, -ve values mean the south pole is tilted towards the Earth. The larger the magnitude of the tilt the greater the exposure of the rings.

During 2009 Saturn's rings are near edge on to the Sun and Earth, so will look very narrow. In the first part of the year, Saturn's south pole is titled slightly towards the Sun so the southern face of the rings is visible. In September the rings become edge on as seen from the Earth. After this the north pole of Saturn will be tilted towards us so that the north face of rings will be narrowly visible.