posted 12-16-2002 12:15 AM
OK folks, this week on the dates of December 17 and 18 Saturn is going to be awesome to view. Not only is it in opposition with the sun (we are between it and the sun) but it is at perihelion in its orbit-- the closest to the sun it gets in its 30 year long orbit. Furthermore, it is tilted toward the sun -- and therefore us as well -- and so its rings are "fully open" right now.
In a nutshell it's the best it's going to be for another thirty years, so if you have a telescope or can get to one, and if the weather complies go out and take a peek.
posted 12-16-2002 08:32 PM
errr...its going to be raining for the entire week here, sorry, and we will be having vast amounts of endless wind... *doesnt feel safe at school* heh, today a piece of...something almost hit us.
posted 01-16-2003 11:09 AM
Just FYI... Saturn will remain in great position to observe for a couple more months. It was just that on the dates mentioned above it happened to be at opposition AND at its absolute closest approach to us.
It's still great viewing; go out and take a gander if you can.