Saturn - The True Lord of the Rings
March 2003 :
Note: This article may contain outdated information
This article was published in the March 2003 issue of The Skyscraper and likely contains some information that was pertinent only for that month. It is being provided here for historical reference only.
We have plenty of time to observe Jupiter, so I'll write about him in my April column. Saturn, on the other hand, will spend less time in the evening sky. My suggestion is to start observing Saturn as soon as you can with your own instruments, then visit Seagrave Observatory when our parking lot is clear of snow. You don't want to miss this beautiful ringed planet this season.
"When Saturn is in view the owner of a telescope may become a recruiting officer for astronomy by simply inviting his friends to gaze at the wonderful planet," wrote Garrett P. Serviss in his 1901 book, Pleasures of the Telescope. Serviss' statement still rings true today. Let the word spread during a star party that Saturn is in view through a specific telescope and watch the line form. Despite being imaged up-close and personal by visiting spacecraft, Saturn can still draw a crowd to the telescope. Saturn's rings simply fascinate people.
Saturn can currently be found in the constellation Taurus, nestled between the horns of the Bull, just left of the Hyades star cluster. This V-shaped star grouping represents the face of the "Bull," and is accentuated by the red star Aldebaran which marks the Bull's eye. If you still have trouble locating Saturn, wait until the night of March 10-11 when the first quarter Moon will be within four degrees of our ringed wonder.
Your first glimpse will clearly reveal Saturn's magnificent ring system, whose southern face is now tilted open to the maximum limit possible to our line of sight. From now on the tilt will decrease until the rings are seen "edge-on" in 2009. Because the rings are now wide open, this configuration allows us to observe detail in their structure. Although there are hundreds of ringlets, you shouldn't have any difficulty seeing the separation between the primary A and B rings. Unfortunately your view cannot compare to what the Voyager I and II spacecraft imaged during their encounters with the planet, but the rings will still amaze you.
They are comprised of irregularly shaped dirty snowballs, ranging in size from grains of dust to many particles the size of pebbles. There are also some "boulders" as large as a few hundred feet. They orbit Saturn in the planet's equatorial plane.
Though the rings are the main attraction, you can also view the planet's salmon-colored cloud tops. Saturn would look very boring through a telescope without its ring system. The bands in its upper atmosphere are much less prominent than those of Jupiter. Very little cloud detail can be seen in small telescopes. One thing you can look for is the shadow of the planet projected onto its rings.
Saturn also has satellites you can observe. Its four brightest are Titan, Rhea, Dione and Tethys, and you can watch these moons orbit Saturn like a solar system in miniature. Titan, which orbits Saturn in 16 days, will be the brightest, and during its greatest elongations east or west of Saturn, can be easily spotted.
Enjoy the beauty of this magnificently ringed world just over one billion miles from our home planet.
Also, don't forget that the vernal equinox occurs on March 20 at 8:00 pm EST. Though that date and time signify the astronomical beginning of spring, I'd be amazed if Mother Nature didn't want to give up so quickly this year. After all, unless the weather patterns change drastically soon, and they can and do, especially when transitioning to the next season, it's going to take some time to melt the approximately 40 inches of snow in my front yard (February 19). Spring will eventually get here and almost everyone will be happy when it does.
Now that you know how to locate Saturn in the sky, I trust you will try to observe it when the next opportunity arises. And furthermore, invite your family, relatives and neighbors out for a view as well and share the beauty of the universe with them. I'm sure they will appreciate your thoughtfulness for rescuing them from cabin fever. Just remember to provide them a shovel to help you clear a path to your observing location!!
Should you want to get a head start on observing Jupiter (the subject of next month's column), the great Jovian world will be the brightest object in the sky to the east of Saturn, very close to the Beehive cluster of stars, in the constellation of Cancer.
If you'd like to explore the universe with larger instruments, then by all means visit Seagrave Memorial Observatory on Peeptoad Road in North Scituate on any clear Saturday night once the parking lot is snow free. Our members will be happy to share their love of the sky with you. More information, including directions, membership, and snow closures, can be found at our website: www.theskyscrapers.org
As always, keep your eyes to the skies.
