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Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Here is a quick sketch of the Titan shadow transit. I was able to view the transit with passing clouds starting around 8:50 PM PDST. The seeing started off suprisingly good which enabled me to observe at 208X. The sketch was made at 9:10 PM PDST. The shadow skimmed the rings as it moved across the globe. The rings have narrowed and the Cassini division at the tip of the rings was barely visible. Saturn's shadow was seen on the rings. This transit is the 6th Titan shadow transit I have seen this year. The weather hasn't been good lately though the last two transits the weather cooperated fortunately. Since the first transit I observed, the shadow of Titan has been gradually moving to the center of the globe with each new transit. And the distance between the shadow and Titan has increased. Greater magnification would have been helpful last night to better see Titan's shadow and the ring separation, but from what I could see, the shadow of Titan had almost entered the shadow of the rings of Saturn. It will be very close if not right on top of the rings on the next transit on July 17th. I hope to see this one as Saturn moves closer to conjunction with the sun. Dean
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Joad
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(Wordsmith)
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07/02/09 04:04 PM
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Thank you, Dean. That's pretty much what I saw last night. You also drew in the four other moons, just as I saw them as well. I really enjoyed the three moon cluster that you show on the right of your drawing.
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Joad, The cluster of three moons was cool. The moon closest to Saturn was pretty faint for me, was better with averted vision. I need to use Stellarium to identify these moons. Dean
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Patricko
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(Carpal Tunnel)
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07/02/09 05:01 PM
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Awesome sketch Dean! I've been wanting to catch one of these transits myself. 
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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That's a great sketch. I'm glad you got to see it. It clouded up and rained on me so I had to miss it.
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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An excellent representation of the transit. Well done. Clear Skyz, LA 
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Thanks guys! Last night I didn't think the weather would cooperate since it's been foggy for weeks. I got my best views of Saturn this winter. But I'm grateful for what I got. Dean
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Dean,
Very good observational sketch.  I was clouded out (again)--thanks for posting the view.
BTW, according to S&T's Saturn applet, Rhea is the moon on the top edge of your drawing with Tethys underneath it and Dione to the left.
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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I realized that in my sketch I failed to shade the ring gap on one side. So today I doctored up the sketch and edited my original post. It was embarrassing that I failed to notice when posting the original. Michael, Thank you for identifying the moons in my sketch. Dean
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CarlosEH
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(Post Laureate)
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07/07/09 08:34 AM
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Dean,
An excellent observation and report of the transit of Titan across the globe of Saturn. It is exciting to watch these rare (approximately every fifteen years) transits, and especially those of Titan. The best of luck in future observations.
Carlos
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Tommy5
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(Carpal Tunnel)
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07/07/09 07:42 PM
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Great sketch of this fairly rare event hope to catch one of these myself, thanks for posting.
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Re: Quick Sketch of Titan Transit 7-1-09
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Thank you Carlos and Tommy5. The next shadow transit occurs on July 17th. I hope to see that one too. These have been a lot of fun. Dean
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