Courses in Astrophotography

Saturn in 2008-2009

Observing Site: Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, UK. +51°35' N, 00°42" W

Opposition date: March 8th, 2009. Apparent Opposition Diameter: 19.71". Declination:+6°41'. Constellation: Leo/Virgo.

Saturn, June 4th 2009. Again under fair seeing using the 9.25" telescope showing the gloomy appearance of the rings.

Saturn, June 1st 2009. Under fair seeing using the 9.25" telescope showing the gloomy appearance of the rings.

Saturn, May 28th 2009. Under fair seeing using the 9.25" telescope. Note the dark appearance of the rings as the Sun grows ever closer to its ring plane crossing in August. Rhea is approaching transit on the left side of the disk.

Saturn, May 21st 2009. Under fair seeing using the 9.25" telescope. Note the dark appearance of the rings as the Sun grows ever closer to its ring plane crossing in August.

Saturn, May 19th 2009. Showing Rhea in transit and the bright equatorial storm.

Saturn, April 22nd, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions showing Rhea and its shadow in transit.

Saturn, April 20th, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions showing the dark appearance of the rings.

Saturn, April 8th, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions showing the bright equatorial storm.

Saturn, April 5th, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions showing the bright equatorial storm.

Saturn, April 3rd, 2009. Under poor-fair seeing conditions.

Saturn, April 2nd, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions showing the bright equatorial storm.

Saturn, April 1st, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions in colour and Methane band 889nm.

Saturn, March 31st, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions. The image at right is in Methane band 889nm.

Saturn, March 29th, 2009. Under fair seeing conditions. Note the darkening rings.

Saturn, March 20th, 2009. Under excellent seeing conditions. The red light animation at right shows numerous features moving with the Planets rotation. My best result of this apparition.

Saturn, March 18th, 2009. Under very good seeing conditions. The red light animation at right shows numerous features moving with the Planets rotation.

Saturn, March 16th, 2009. Good seeing conditions.

Saturn, March 4th, 2009. Fair seeing conditions, though no spots or storms were recorded on this occasion.

Saturn, March 1st, 2009. The rings have begun to open again, being titled 2.3º to the south in this view under good conditions in early March. Note the storms in the Equatorial Zone as well as the multitude of coloured bands present.

Saturn, Jan 4th, 2009. The ring tilt here is at the minimum angle we will clearly observe this time around. The tilt s only 0.8º though the rings can still be clearly seen. From this date on the rings re-open slowly to -4.1º by May 2009 before the Earth crosses the ring plane in September.

Saturn, Dec 30th, 2008. The ring tilt here is at the minimum angle we will clearly observe this time around. The tilt s only 0.8º though the rings can still be clearly seen. From this date on the rings re-open slowly to -4.1º by May 2009 before the Earth crosses the ring plane in September.

Saturn, Dec 7th, 2008. The ring tilt here is only 0.9º though the rings can still be clearly seen. Note the shadow of Dione cast onto the cloudtops, and a bright storm in the South Hemisphere located at L3=312º.