Saturn the ringed planet
September 16th 2007 06:11
I must admit Saturn is one of my popular planets to see trough the telescope. Even a moderate powered telescope or a pair of high power binoculars you can see the rings of Saturn although you cannot see much detail at low power but it is still a majestic experience. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and is the second largest in the solar system next to Jupiter with an equatorial diameter of 119,300 kilometers (74,130 miles).
A great deal of information came from Much of what is known about the planet is due to the Voyager explorations in 1980-81. Saturn has a very fast ration on its axis for a large planet a typical day is 10 hours 39 minutes long and takes 29.5 of our years to make complete of the Sun. The atmosphere is mostly composed of hydrogen with small amounts of helium and methane. Saturn's hazy yellow hue is marked by broad atmospheric banding similar to, but fainter than, that found on Jupiter.
Saturn’s rings make this planet one of most beautiful object in our solar system. The rings are split into a number of different parts, which include the bright A and B rings and a fainter C ring and are most composed of ice and other debris. The wind blows at high speeds on Saturn are horrendous near the equator; it reaches velocities of 500 meters a second (1,100 miles an hour).
The wind blows mostly in an easterly direction. The strongest winds are found near the equator. Saturn rings undergo a tilting effect every 12 years or so and from Earth they become almost obscure when seen edge on.
Saturn has 30 moons and more remain yet undiscovered.
Images NASA/HST
Saturn taken with theHubble telescope just above the rings a storm is in session
A great deal of information came from Much of what is known about the planet is due to the Voyager explorations in 1980-81. Saturn has a very fast ration on its axis for a large planet a typical day is 10 hours 39 minutes long and takes 29.5 of our years to make complete of the Sun. The atmosphere is mostly composed of hydrogen with small amounts of helium and methane. Saturn's hazy yellow hue is marked by broad atmospheric banding similar to, but fainter than, that found on Jupiter.
Saturn’s rings make this planet one of most beautiful object in our solar system. The rings are split into a number of different parts, which include the bright A and B rings and a fainter C ring and are most composed of ice and other debris. The wind blows at high speeds on Saturn are horrendous near the equator; it reaches velocities of 500 meters a second (1,100 miles an hour).
Saturn with Two of Saturn's satellites Dione on the lower left and Tethys right
The wind blows mostly in an easterly direction. The strongest winds are found near the equator. Saturn rings undergo a tilting effect every 12 years or so and from Earth they become almost obscure when seen edge on.
Saturn has 30 moons and more remain yet undiscovered.
Images NASA/HST
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Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
oooh I love Saturn - I saw it on a camp when I was about 12 and when I close my eyes I can still see it.
I`m going to have a look through the telescope and see if I can find it sometime!
Fascinating information as always
Ash
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
I enjoy sharing my passion for astronomy with others. Thank you reading my blogs.
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
thank your for your comment. You never get too old to see Saturn. It has been over 50 plus years since I first saw it with my small telescope, and I still get a buzz when I see it.
You will need to be an early riser because Saturn is only visable in the morning sky say around 4:30 am and apperas next to Venus in the north east.
Cheers
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I was going to ask where to look for it in the sky as I have a small telescope but I thought it a bit of a broad question!
I`ll get up early over the weekend and have a gander - it certainly is well worth the rise!
Ash
Comment by Damo
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
It is such an interesting thing that you mention Saturn, because for me, seeing it through the telescope for the first time, was life altering and extremely personal.
I'm not kidding. It was real, it was winking at me, it was alive. Just there, right there. I realised in that moment what it was, to be a part of a vast living universe, living on a breathing planet, with a cousin out there with rings and a cheeky wink!
All my esoteric knowledge of the Astrological father of time, took on new meaning... certainly an alchemic moment... seeing it through that telescope made me feel like a God(dess)...
I would highly recommend that everyone get out and see this one 'live' at least once in their lifetime... it really has a way of putting so much into perspective...
Astounded to note that it has 30 moons, I only thought about 10?
So much to learn, so little time left to learn it...
Lilla ...
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Long time no see
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
It is an amazing experience especially seeing Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope there is always something changing. Every time we look up at the night sky is like viewing a vast time machine. Stars that we see now have since moved or no longer there in real time.