Saturns rings edge-on today

[Fred Ley]

Hi Everybody,

 

I was wondering if anyone will be in a position to get some nice images of the rings of Saturn which are edge-on today? Unfortunately, where I live does not allow me any access to the sky.

 

Keep reaching for the stars.

 

-Fred

[vtsamis]

Hi Fred,

 

Saturn will be beautiful today, but not really edge-on. This will happen on September 4th 2009.

See: http://www.imcce.fr/fr/presentation/equipes/GAP/travaux/phemu09/index_en.html

and http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/Education/saturnobservation/viewing2009/

 

Vagelis Tsamis

[Alexander]

Ναι και λογικά τότε οι αστρονόμοι θα ψάξουν για καινούριους δορυφόρους του Κρόνου.

Δείτε μια φοβερή φωτογραφία http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090319.html

[Fred Ley]

Hi Everybody,

 

Well, the article posted on astro-Mart carries the title "Saturns Rings Visible Edge-on Tonight". So I figured that that is neat. Now, I went back read the whole article and it states that "Although the rings have now passed being exactly edge-on due to Saturn's continuous orbit around the sun, Shelton describes the slight degree change as "barely noticeable." She said she is sure it is almost impossible to detect with the naked eye."

Anyhow I hope that someone was able to get some nice images of the planet and its Moons.

 

This link should take you directly to the article http://www.astromart.com/news/news.asp?news_id=919

 

-Fred

[vtsamis]

Saturn, as seen from Earth, moves quite slowly around the Sun, so the rings will be almost edge-on for many months to follow!

This has been a magnificent spectacle for me since December 2008, when I first observed it, and it will -hopefully- continue to be such throughout Spring and Summer 2009!

Unfortunately, Saturn will be lost in Sun's glare, low in the western horizon, in early or mid-August.

 

Vagelis Tsamis

[vroxh]

Χτες κοιταξα αρκετη ωρα τον Κρονο! Παρα το λιγο αερακι και τα αρκετα φωτα της γειτονιας μου ηταν πολυ ομορφος.. Δυστυχως δεν τον φωτογραφησα.. Μπορει να τον δοκιμασω σημερα ομως!