When would Saturn's rings go invisible?

[ozskywatcher]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions re. the above question.

I am aware that Saturns rings go edge on in September 2009 when Saturn is too close to the Sun for this to be visible ... or rather not visible! I am assuming that before the rings really go edge on, they will become too 'thin' to see through a decent amateur telescope.

Does anyone remember observing last time this happened?

Many thanks,

Paul Floyd
www.nightskyonline.info (http://www.nightskyonline.info)

[glenc]

They are opening a bit now but will close again.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/22dec_crazytilt.htm

[Blue Skies]

I remember the last ring plane crossing in 1995 (was a triple event) and recall that most of the time something of the rings were visible i.e. there would be a thin line showing you where they were. It was only a few days, no more than two days either side of a crossing, that they were really hard to see.

[ozskywatcher]

Do you happen to remember what size telescope you used - which showed the rings that close to ring crossing?

Thanks,

Paul Floyd.

[ausastronomer]

After about 15 stubbies, or 3 bottles of Shiraz :)

Cheers,
John B

[ozskywatcher]

:) I can guess what you where doing when that message was sent.

Paul.

[ngcles]

Hi Paul & All,



I know that the rings were just visible in my old 25cm (10") only 40hrs post one of the three ring-plane crossings in 1995 as a faint ray (line). The seeing that night for Sydney was exceptional (some of the best I've seen in Sydney) and the image was perfectly stable -- without a quiver at all at x290 and x363, but showed some few wobbles at x580.

I think I watched Saturn that night (very heavy dew as I recall) for about 4 hrs almost non-stop. Thoroughly exceptional night. The detail visible was amazing -- there were three belts visible in either hemisphere and the ring shadow was razor thin black slash on the ball of the planet.

The rings this year open a little from now, up to about 4 or 5 degrees in late April and then close down toward the ring-plane crossing in September (ish) -- but it will be lost in the glare of the Sun at the time.

Make the best of what the view affords.


Best,

Les D

[ozskywatcher]

That gives me an idea of how small a scope is likely then.

My reason for asking is that I wanted to write something on the blog I have on my website about what people could expect to see through an amateur telescope. I didn't own a telescope at the last ring crossing however so didn't see it first hand.

Would you mind if I quoted you in the blog I have on my site?

Regards,

Paul Floyd.
www.nightskyonline.info (http://www.nightskyonline.info)

[ngcles]

Hi Paul,

No problemo.


Best,


Les D

[Blue Skies]

I can't really remember, but there would have been a 12" involved, mostly there were 8" around at the time and a 10" (it was a couple of years before I got my 8" dob). I reckon an 8" would show something at high power if conditions were right but Les has answered it better than I probably could.

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: it dosnt go invisible for me, i see two of them :lol:
:P