Saturn is always a joy to observe. While the disk doesn't show much detail the ring system is always intriguing and gets a "wow" from anyone who sees it for the first time. This page is broken up into the following sub-sections:
Saturn is fun to view but I don't give it too much time since you just don't see much detail with even my 7" scope and it doesn't change too frequently. I typically spend about 15-20 minutes viewing Saturn when I'm out just to admire it and make sure that there is nothing worthy of further viewing. If there is something notable or I just haven't drawn it in a while I'll stop and draw for 10-15 minutes.
I typically use filters when studying Saturn. The ones I find most useful are:
The best information on a real observing program for Saturn I've found is in The Planet Observer's Handbook by Fred W. Price.
Saturn reaches opposition on November 19, 2000. The viewing for this opposition began for me in mid-September when I got the 7" Mak and began getting up in the early morning hours to view both Jupiter and Saturn. The rings are mostly wide open right now and you get a good view of Cassini's Division. Here's a sampling of my morning observations:
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Saturn
September 23, 2000 12:50 - 12:55 UT Meade 7" Mak 25-15mm eyepieces 100-178X 15 (Yellow) Seeing: 7-8/10 Clear & Crisp |
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Saturn
September 26, 2000 10:40 - 10:50 UT Meade 7" Mak 25-10mm eyepieces 100-267X 15 (Yellow), 58 (Green) Seeing: 8/10 Clear & Crisp, best view yet |
These drawings were all put on the web by using my Olympus D-620L digital camera to shoot my log book drawings. I then process images via Camedia by Olympus and CCDSoft by Software Bisque to get them web-friendly. I need to come up with a scanning system so that I get more consistency.
Note that North is UP, East is to the LEFT and West is to the RIGHT.
Here are some of my favorite Saturn links...
