ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR I DEGREE STUDENTS 17-18

Spectacular Saturn’s Rings Now

Saturn’s rings open wider this year than any time since 2003. It is an event for every 14 years. Any telescope delivers spectacular views of Saturn this year. This is their biggest tilt since 2003. For every 14 years the Saturn rings are very beautiful to view and in between in one year it is absolutely not visible. In 2003 it was very beautiful. In 2009 the rings completely disappeared. Now it’s turn for a beautiful view.

Along with this June 15^th is Saturn’s opposition which is an yearly event. At opposition rings tilt 27⁰ to our line of sight and afford observers spectacular views through any telescope.

          At opposition, that is on June 15^th when it lies opposite the sun in our sky and thus remains visible all night. The planet also comes closest to earth at opposition (nearly 15 crore kilometers. Average distance between sun and Saturn is 145 crore kilometers). So it shines brightest and looms largest when viewed through a telescope. Thus at opposition the planet Saturn appears for brighter than any star in the surrounding constellations.

          If sky is clear it is a chance to see beautiful ringed planet, Saturn.

This information is from Poornaprajna Amateur Astronomers Club (PAAC) Poornaprajna College, Udupi. 

Spectacular View of Saturn