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

[Doodles23 (Dave Bleser)]

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. 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


Saber Does The Stars at
www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx

[figgylion (Steve)]

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