An unusual Saturn.

[WadeH]

Last night I finally had enough sucker holes to get a reasonable time looking at Mercury and Saturn! :D

Saturn sure looks strange without its rings, totally invisable. Being so low in the evening sky meant a sharp image was impossible but worth the look anyhow. Titan was also visable. This was observed at 192X.

Wanted to do some observing of Jupiter and others but guess what?

After this in came the rain again for the rest of the night!! :shrug:

[mozzie]

sucks when that happens alittle time in the eyepiece is better then no time at all
mozzie

[Pogers]

I just recently got my first telescope after years of interest and i saw saturn without the rings....... amazing how 1/2 months ago how clear it was for now to be not visible. I was stumped thinking it can't be saturn, Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[WadeH]

Welcome to IIS Rick. :welcome:

Make the most of this as it only happens every 14-15 yrs. Just imagine all those people going to public observitories to see the rings of Saturn only to see a ball!!

What sort of scope do you have? Whatever you are sure to have a lot of fun.

cheers,

Wade

[Pogers]

Thanks Wade

I have a Nexstar 114 SLT. It was a gift from my family as they knew i've wanted one for a while. It's been exclellent as it helps you find objects, however sometimes it doesn't work. I've been looking at star maps and trying to learn a bit, i'm getting there slowly.

Tome flies and on a clear night, i don't get much sleep!

[WadeH]

Looks nice Rick. You must have a nice family.

Yes, its all a slow learning curve. IMO, you cant beat the satisfaction on finding an object by charts and star hopping. It may take a lot longer (sometimes not at all) but it sure teaches you the night sky.

Now the addiction begins. Above all ask a lot of questions, all friends here!!

[Liz]

Yes Wade, poor Saturn is only a shadow of her magnificent self :(
I checked it out last night, but yep, very low in the west with lots of atmosphere. Also had a look at Mercury - ? gibbeous disc, and of course, the wondrous Jupiter and Moons.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/cassinif-20090807.html