My first view of Saturn was one of those events that set me off on a different path. Up to then, I had an interest in all things "Space" but not to the extent that I have today. When I talk to other "astronomy" people I find many are affected in a similar manner. In other words, we bought thousands of dollars of astronomy equipment because of this planetary neighbour.
That's ok because Saturn is worthy of all that attention. Even though it is so far away, it is a beautiful jewel! Although this planet is visible to the naked eye, Saturn's beautiful rings weren't detected until Galileo first saw it with his telescope. Ever since then we have been under Saturn's spell.
Improvements in telescope lenses only heightened Saturn's eerie beauty. More detail became visible and Saturn's rings were shown to be comprised of many different segments. The rings are very thin -only about 1 km thick but span a distance that would go almost from our Earth to the Moon. The rings are comprised of dust and rocks varying in size from microscopic to house-sized. ( Imust apologize here to all the people who heard me say the rings were made of lost socks and airline luggage) There is also the odd moon here and there hiding in the rings. Adding to Saturn's intrigue is the fact that this "Gas Giant" planet is so light that it would float in water.
You can see in the sky chart Saturn is in the night sky at this time of year. Look in the south after dark. You will see Saturn in the constellation Cancer right next to a loose grouping of stars known as "The Beehive". Saturn is discernable to the naked eye as a star that does not twinkle like its other stellar neighbours. Binoculars will show it next to the stars of "The Beehive" and a small telescope will show Saturn's pale yellow colour, the rings and maybe even a few of Saturn's 50 moons.
sky chart: (c) Image made with Starry Night Software - www.starrynight.com
Look for the Durham Region Astronomical Association display at "Winter Wonderlearn" on Saturday February 25th from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Courtice Community Complex on Courtice Road just north of Highway 2.
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