I noticed aphelion, too. Let's see, I'll have to check...when was new moon, like the 2nd wasn't it?

But yesterday when I was watching the OpenAstro animation I have running on the Linux laptop, I really noticed that right at the time of the earthquake both Sol and Saturn were right on opposite horizons entering this opposition.

I think you're right. There are major gravitational forces at work.

Now, if I just knew what gravity was...