Sick of Mars? Try Saturn

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2..._trysaturn.htm

Sick of Mars? Try Saturn
NASA Science News
September 17, 2003

Saturn is fast becoming an eye-catching sight in the morning
sky. Jupiter's not bad either.

September 17, 2003: It's the brightest thing in the night sky. It's
historically close to Earth. It's a wonder to behold through a telescope.
It's ... Mars.

If you've been listening to the news for the past two months you've
undoubtedly heard a lot about Mars. Mars. Mars. Mars. And just maybe,
you're getting sick of Mars. Good news: There are eight other planets in
the solar system. And this week you can see the two biggest ones.

First, try Saturn.

You'll have to wake up early to do it, about 5 o'clock in
the morning, but that's not much earlier than usual on a
school day. Look high in the eastern sky. Saturn sits in the middle of
the constellation Gemini. The planet is about three and a half times
brighter than Castor and Pollux, Gemini's brightest stars, so it's easy
to pick out.

When observing Saturn, a telescope is recommended. Not because Saturn is
dim. It's because you'll want to see the planet's magnificent rings.
They're almost twice as wide as Mars, an easy target for small
telescopes.

While you're looking at Saturn's rings, consider this: they're a mystery.
Astronomers aren't sure where they came from or how old they are. Some
evidence suggests they formed only a few hundred million years ago--a
time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Before then Saturn might have been
a ring-less planet. You can find out more by reading Science@NASA's "The
Real Lord of the Rings."

Next, look for Jupiter.

From Saturn, trace an imaginary line down toward the horizon. That leads
you to Jupiter--a bright "star" shining through the rosy glow of sunrise.
Jupiter has spent the past two months hiding behind the sun, but now it's
emerging from the glare.

Jupiter is five times brighter than Saturn--really eye-catching.
Jupiter's cloud belts are easy to see through a telescope, as are its
four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Together they look
like a miniature solar system.

Jupiter will be in the news this week because NASA
plans to crash a spacecraft into the planet on
Sept. 21st. The Galileo probe has been orbiting and
studying Jupiter since December 1995. The craft has
had some amazing adventures--dipping into volcanic
plumes on Io, flying through Jupiter's dark rings
and radiation belts. But now its thrusters are
nearly exhausted, and while ground controllers still have some control
they're going to send Galileo plunging into Jupiter where it will burn up
like a meteor.

The move is designed to protect possible life on Jupiter's moon Europa
from terrestrial contamination. If Galileo is reduced to atoms in
Jupiter's atmosphere, it will never accidentally crash-land on Europa. No
one on Earth will be able to see the impact, but it's something to think
about while you're watching the giant planet this week.

If you don't feel like waking up at 5 a.m. to see Saturn and Jupiter,
there's always Mars. It really is bright and wonderful--a joy to behold
through a telescope. And you can behold it before bedtime. Convenient.

Just remember... it's not the only planet in the solar system.

thanks Ron for your update.


"Ron Baalke" schreef in bericht
...
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2..._trysaturn.htm

Sick of Mars? Try Saturn
NASA Science News
September 17, 2003

Saturn is fast becoming an eye-catching sight in the morning
sky. Jupiter's not bad either.

September 17, 2003: It's the brightest thing in the night sky. It's
historically close to Earth. It's a wonder to behold through a telescope.
It's ... Mars.

If you've been listening to the news for the past two months you've
undoubtedly heard a lot about Mars. Mars. Mars. Mars. And just maybe,
you're getting sick of Mars. Good news: There are eight other planets in
the solar system. And this week you can see the two biggest ones.

First, try Saturn.

You'll have to wake up early to do it, about 5 o'clock in
the morning, but that's not much earlier than usual on a
school day. Look high in the eastern sky. Saturn sits in the middle of
the constellation Gemini. The planet is about three and a half times
brighter than Castor and Pollux, Gemini's brightest stars, so it's easy
to pick out.

When observing Saturn, a telescope is recommended. Not because Saturn is
dim. It's because you'll want to see the planet's magnificent rings.
They're almost twice as wide as Mars, an easy target for small
telescopes.

While you're looking at Saturn's rings, consider this: they're a mystery.
Astronomers aren't sure where they came from or how old they are. Some
evidence suggests they formed only a few hundred million years ago--a
time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Before then Saturn might have been
a ring-less planet. You can find out more by reading Science@NASA's "The
Real Lord of the Rings."

Next, look for Jupiter.

From Saturn, trace an imaginary line down toward the horizon. That leads
you to Jupiter--a bright "star" shining through the rosy glow of sunrise.
Jupiter has spent the past two months hiding behind the sun, but now it's
emerging from the glare.

Jupiter is five times brighter than Saturn--really eye-catching.
Jupiter's cloud belts are easy to see through a telescope, as are its
four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Together they look
like a miniature solar system.

Jupiter will be in the news this week because NASA
plans to crash a spacecraft into the planet on
Sept. 21st. The Galileo probe has been orbiting and
studying Jupiter since December 1995. The craft has
had some amazing adventures--dipping into volcanic
plumes on Io, flying through Jupiter's dark rings
and radiation belts. But now its thrusters are
nearly exhausted, and while ground controllers still have some control
they're going to send Galileo plunging into Jupiter where it will burn up
like a meteor.

The move is designed to protect possible life on Jupiter's moon Europa
from terrestrial contamination. If Galileo is reduced to atoms in
Jupiter's atmosphere, it will never accidentally crash-land on Europa. No
one on Earth will be able to see the impact, but it's something to think
about while you're watching the giant planet this week.

If you don't feel like waking up at 5 a.m. to see Saturn and Jupiter,
there's always Mars. It really is bright and wonderful--a joy to behold
through a telescope. And you can behold it before bedtime. Convenient.

Just remember... it's not the only planet in the solar system.

(Ron Baalke) wrote in message ...
First, try Saturn.

You'll have to wake up early to do it, about 5 o'clock in
the morning, but that's not much earlier than usual on a
school day. Look high in the eastern sky. Saturn sits in the middle of
the constellation Gemini. The planet is about three and a half times
brighter than Castor and Pollux, Gemini's brightest stars, so it's easy
to pick out.

When observing Saturn, a telescope is recommended. Not because Saturn is
dim. It's because you'll want to see the planet's magnificent rings.
They're almost twice as wide as Mars, an easy target for small
telescopes.

THE best time to observe Saturn is fast approaching. It is getting
high in the sky before sunrise when you have the best chance for
exceptional seeing. Also the shadows of the rings on the planet, and
the plantet on the rings give it a 3D look.

Steve O.

Stephen Astro posted:

THE best time to observe Saturn is fast approaching.

That depends on what one means by the word "fast". Opposition is New Year's Eve!
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************

"David Knisely" wrote in message
...
Stephen Astro posted:

THE best time to observe Saturn is fast approaching.

That depends on what one means by the word "fast". Opposition is New
Year's Eve!

Cool. Orion is scheduled to ship my new 10" Dob September 30th, so I'll have
a good view from here. ;-)

--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************

In message , Ron Baalke
writes
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2..._trysaturn.htm

Sick of Mars? Try Saturn
NASA Science News
September 17, 2003

While you're looking at Saturn's rings, consider this: they're a mystery.
Astronomers aren't sure where they came from or how old they are. Some
evidence suggests they formed only a few hundred million years ago--a
time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Before then Saturn might have been
a ring-less planet.

I've posted this several times and so far no-one's responded, and my own
searches haven't found anything.
Who was the British astronomer Arthur Clarke mentions in "2001 A Space
Odyssey" as saying in 1945 that the rings might be only 2 or 3 million
years old ? [Oops. That was a bit convoluted !]
Or was Clarke making it up for the story ?
--
"Forty millions of miles it was from us, more than forty millions of miles of
void"

David Knisely wrote in message ...
Stephen Astro posted:

THE best time to observe Saturn is fast approaching.

That depends on what one means by the word "fast". Opposition is New Year's Eve!


It also depends on what one considers "best". Opposition is too late if you ask me.

Steve O.

Steve O. posted:

It also depends on what one considers "best". Opposition is too late if you ask me.

Huh? Opposition is definitely *not* too late. Most people are not in the
situation to access viewing it in the pre-dawn sky. With opposition, Saturn
is up all night, and afterwards, it is definitely more convenient to view for
most people. It is closest to the Earth near opposition and thus will have an
angular diameter (20.9" arc) which is larger than it is currently (its disk
will be over 20" arc in diameter for about a month and a half either side of
opposition). It will be in a good position to view, as from opposition on
towards quadrature, Saturn's declination will be increasing slightly, making
it a good period of observations for observers in the northern hemisphere (it
will transit at over 62 degrees above the horizon for much of the U.S.). In
fact, it will be reasonably good for probably three months either side of the
date of opposition. There is really no "best" time, other than the time when
it will be convenient for the observer to watch it and when it is best placed
for viewing (ie: highest above the horizon). Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

**********************************************
* Attend the 10th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY *
* July 27-Aug. 1st, 2003, Merritt Reservoir *
* http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org *
**********************************************