Saturn 2009-10: The Motion Picture

[saberscorpx]

Created with Celestia planetarium software, this clip demonstrates Saturn's changing ring tilt and apparent size over the next two years surrounding September's northern ring plane crossing.

http://tinyurl.com/8ld56r


Enjoy the show,

Saber Does The Stars at
www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx (http://www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx)

[Doodles23]

I appreciate the link to the animation. But there are no dates tracking the animation. As a Saturn observer and photographer I have noticed that the rings are nearly edge on now. Then they will widen a bit and then become totally edge on on September 4th, when nobody will be able to photograph it. :help: But can anyone tell me what date in late 2008 or early 2009 were the rings at their maximum thinness? Also I wish someone could explain the reason for the double dipping. Will double dipping also occur in 2023??

[saberscorpx]

The sim starts last week and runs thru 2010 at roughly 4 months/second.
Minimum tilt before the crossing (0.8°) ended 05 Jan. The rings reopen to 4.2° in May, and finally close toward the actual ring plane crossing in September.
The 'double-dipping' logistics are shown in this animation from Saturn's gap looking back at Earth and the inner Solar system from Jan-Sep 09.

http://tinyurl.com/8wtq7a (http://tinyurl.com/8wtq7a)


Saber Does The Stars at
www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx (http://www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx)

[figgylion]

Just spent a good hour gazing at Saturn, a truly awe inspiring sight. Trying to keep it in the FOV whilst using a 5x Powermate was fun too :whistle: