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Pages: 1 azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA A Sharper Saturn       #5275005 - 06/16/12 10:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Tonight was actually an increment or so better than last obs "Sharp Saturn" Id call it 7-8/10 Pickering compared to 7/10 last time. My wife saw Cassinis Division. This is the first time Ive had a visitor actually discern this kind of refined detail. Most folks not acclimated to amateur astronomy are good for the ogling stare waiting for the obvious to come out. Jeanette described it as "a ghostly grey line" as she observed with my 70mm semi-apo. It was a little better than last time, the "ghostly" grey line was seen more often and had a cleaner look about it. The division itself through 70mm stayed out at the ansae as too shallow curved banana like dark bars. Never beyond that. The shadow neath the rings on the globe was also a refined feature showing well. The green belt was a loss. I really allowed for some patient attention but it never showed, not even as a colorless band. Above the South Equatorial Belt it was beautifuly smooth with nary a clue as to anything but this wonderful blankness. Titan was seen - Jeannette saw it too but she wasnt as impressed as with Cassinis. Still it was a cool thing to tell her the significance of observing the "dim star". The only other moon seen and with a little difficulty was Rhea at magnitude 10. Transparency wasnt terrific. I comfortably enjoyed a profitable 200x with the 70mm - an improvement over the 120x - 133x last time. Refreshingly good. Pete Edited by azure1961p (06/16/12 10:59 PM) Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: A Sharper Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5275212 - 06/17/12 03:53 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great! I expect a Pickering 10/10 next report! I had some Saturn observing planned for some dinner guests this evening; but wouldn't you know it, a dust storm blew in. *sigh* That's great that your wife can see the details. My wife would make an absolutely superb observer, if the interest was there. She's so observant - she sees everything! During oppositions of Mars, she has no trouble making out the fine Martian details. One time, while just taking a quick, aimless scan through my 8" Newt, she spotted an obscure dark nebula, which I was subsequently able to positively identify in the U2000 (and she didn't even know about dark nebulae at the time). She's really good. But, she's not very interested in astronomy, except to look at neat stuff I've already lined up. (She is kind, though, and feigns interest when I babble on about it.) Post Extras:       Asbytec Guy in a furry hat Reged: 08/08/07 Loc: La Union, PI Re: A Sharper Saturn [Re: Rick Woods]       #5275285 - 06/17/12 07:33 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great news, Pete. I am glad you are getting out more, with the wife no less. Occasionally, the girlfriend will come and observe with me. She might bring a friend from time to time. But, she always balks at my sketches. "Yea, right!" Post Extras:       azure1961p Postmaster Reged: 01/17/09 Loc: USA Re: A Sharper Saturn [Re: Asbytec]       #5275329 - 06/17/12 09:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rick, There is something kind in the feigned interest though isn't there? I think its a hardwired wife thing in situations like this. I had a girlfriend who called me an "Irving" when I would go on about astronomy. Dust storms Rick? Norme, Your girlfriend continuing to disbelieve your sketches always makes me chuckle. Ive been blessed with two NORMAL observing sessions consecutively - can seem weird after all those winter seeing bad seeing nights od 3-4/5. Practicaly useless. Now to get the bigger scopes outside. Pete Post Extras:       Asbytec Guy in a furry hat Reged: 08/08/07 Loc: La Union, PI Re: A Sharper Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5275344 - 06/17/12 09:20 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Pete, life should make one chuckle. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: A Sharper Saturn [Re: azure1961p]       #5275707 - 06/17/12 02:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Dust storms Rick? Yeah, they're fairly common during the summer here on Mars - er, in Arizona. Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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