Saturn Image 2025/07/15(UT)
Paul G. Abel
P.Abel
| Paul G. Abel |
We had clear skies and good seeing on 15th July and I made a start on the current Saturn apparition. The rings are now quite narrow but we are now looking at the southern part of the rings which have not been visible for many years. At a power of x230 there was a lot of interesting detail observed: Globe: ・The SPR was rather dark (much more so than the NPR) and had a noticeable bluish colour. There appeared to be a polar band surrounding it. ・STZ light with a slight greenish tint. ・STB seen and a SSTB suspected but not definitely observed. The STB seemed to be bluish grey in colour. ・SEB seems to be of a warm brownish tone. It looks like there were two components with the SEB(N) being the darkest of the two. ・EZ light with an grey EB present. ・NEB was probably the most conspicuous belt on the planet, the belt below this is probably too distant to be the NEB(N) so must be the NTB. ・NTB and NNTB seen, both bluish in colour. ・NTZ light but no obvious indication of any greenish tint. ・NPR observed and lighter in colour than the SPR. Rings: Interestingly the rings have now taken on a bronze colour- I don't think this is entirely due to altitude as the rings were more yellowish when the planet was further south- it is more likely due to the smaller value of B. ・A-Ring darker at the edges. Cassini Division now only visible at the ansae edges. ・B-Ring lighter. ・C-Ring is visible but only really at the edges and some appear to be 'glowing' in the moments of good seeing. Two satellites are shown in the drawing, Dione is below the rings while Rhea is above them. Observations were finished at 0252UT as the sky was getting very light at this point.[Paul G. Abel:Leicester:United Kingdom]
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