Cassini Division

[Fandango]

Please can anyone tell me: Is Saturn's Cassini Division visible when viewing thru my SW 130P or is it something that you only pick up when imaging?

Saturn is amazing and I keep going back to it. Tried with my 5 mil Vixen EP & then pushed my scope to it's absolute limit with the 5 mil and a 2x barlow. It was just very slightly blurred, but the extra magnification didn't show it. Thanks.

[vegaandarctures]

It should be visible in your scope but I find it tricky in even larger scopes, Keep looking the key is too wait for that moment of steady seeing condition's. But yeah you should get it in a 5 inch

[squashnut72]

You may have answered your own question mate.

If you have gone up to the maximum reasonable magnification and still can't see it, you may need to take your scope somewhere with better viewing conditions and less LP in order to have a better chance of viewing it.

I haven't seen it yet with my 150 but then again, I haven't got the requisite EPs yet to go beyond 120x mag

Cheers

[Moonshane]

Cassini's division as mentioned does need good seeing, good collimation and good optics. With patience, I agree you'll see it with your scope. I don't agree that location makes a difference. Persevere and you'll get it.

Like many objects, it's often a case of learning 'how' to see it and what to look for and once you see it you'll be able to see it virtually always and wonder how you struggled previously.

It's a different kettle of fish but when I observe with my 16" dob (masked down to 170mm) I can see the division every time I observe and it's often constant and stable.

[coulthamst]

It will also depend on how "open" the rings are. During the last time the rings were at maximum, I could clearly see the Cassini division from inner city Leeds using a Skywatcher 80mm achro refractor.

[Cath]

I could clearly see it the other week using my Nexstar 6" SCT using x115 and x220 magnification, but seeing had to be good. That was our back garden where we have LP (nice orange sky when the clouds are about).

So don't give up just yet.

[AlBoning]

I read somewhere that one doesn't actually "see" Cassini's Division. What one is observing is the contrast between the rings and the gap between them. From that I'd conclude anything that can muck up contrast would make it more difficult to observe the Division.

That said, it looks great in my 102 mm f/11 achromat.

[Fandango]

Mmm, maybe I did indeed answer my own question! However I am heartened by the replies so far and will be out tonight sneaking another look. I love Saturn! I wonder who the first ever person was to view Saturn and have that 'Whoa' moment.

Thanks All

Moonshane - Your dob is a monster!

[John]

.... I wonder who the first ever person was to view Saturn and have that 'Whoa' moment.....

Galileo in 1610. His scope magnified 20x I believe. It took him until 1616 to realize what he was observing were rings - initially he thought Saturn was a triple planet.

[Moonshane]

Mmm, maybe I did indeed answer my own question! However I am heartened by the replies so far and will be out tonight sneaking another look. I love Saturn! I wonder who the first ever person was to view Saturn and have that 'Whoa' moment.

Thanks All

Moonshane - Your dob is a monster!

I should have added that in ideal seeing conditions, aperture makes more difference than most things with planetary resolution - that said, in the vast majority if situations in the UK I feel focal ratio makes the most difference for scopes of the same aperture. Ideally I'd never use the aperture mask but I almost always do with planets and moon (and doubles).

[Donkeiller]

Wednesday had very good views of Cassini at X120 and X188 in my 6SE

Last night rather dimmer views at similar mags with my 4" 'frac., but still obvious.

Both from a central city location.

The main things with reflectors (or cats) is getting the collimation spot on and allowing them to cool down.

I couldn't understand why my 6SE was giving inferior views than my 'frac till I learned about "good" collimation.

Once you have done it, it's easy and you will not be disappointed with your 5".

[boltzy]

I finally managed to see the Cassini last night (yay!), although it wasn't always obvious and fairly fleeting, but I'm sure I saw it. Is this usual with scope like mine?

One good thing about observing Saturn currently, is that you don't have to wait for it to get completely dark. It was 11pm last night and I could still read a book by the sky glow!

[John]

I finally managed to see the Cassini last night (yay!), although it wasn't always obvious and fairly fleeting, but I'm sure I saw it. Is this usual with scope like mine?...

Congratulations on seeing it

Seeing (or not) the Cassini Division is as much about the seeing conditions as it is the scope. Conditions vary all the time so the division can come and go as the seeing changes. You know when you have a really good night when the division is sharply etched around the rings and stays that way for long periods.

Conditions like that are fairly rare though, I'd say

[Bluey]

I was lucky last night, wasn't expecting anything great really as the seeing has been pretty rubbish lately, but got great views of Saturn at X266 and saw the Cassini quite easily, I took my time to really look and stuck with it. I would say that it was my best view so far.

On the other hand, I tried to find M3 with no luck, it was fairly early, about 11pm, so I assume the sky was to light.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Aperture and the tilt of Saturns rings are the most important factors (along with good seeing conditions).

I had a look at Saturn a few weeks ago with my 8" SCT and i could not see the cassini division.

From experience, i think you will really struggle to see it with 130mm.

[Ags]

I have seen hints of the Cassini Division in my Mak at high powers, but I think it is the sort of fine detail that needs the higher resolution of a larger instrument.

[Fandango]

See I knew I should have bought bigger! I'll keep looking though - just in case. I'm actually still staggered that light from Saturn travels 2 billion miles into my scope and I can see it quite clearly. It's just amazing.

[tony4563]

Seeing / Aperture / Perseverence

I love Saturn

[ollypenrice]

The seeing (stability of the air/image) is usually best in the small hours when the land has given up its heat. Wind is bad news, also, because it creates layers of sudden temperature change as you go up through the atmosphere and this induces wobble. You don't need high transparency for the planets. In fact a thin haze, within reason, can be associated with good planetary observing.

Olly

[johninderby]

Yes steady seeing conditions are really helpful with Saturn.

The Caasini division is no problem with my Carton 100mm f/13, but then it is a specialist planetary scope that does have exceptional contrast and sharpness. The other night Saturn was so razor sharp and well defined it was mesmerizing. The rings had that 3D look with nice shading and "texture" and good banding on the surface of Saturn as well.

Makes owning a specialist planetary scope so worthwhile.

John

[Darkstar_1]

I have clearly seen the cassini division with my mak127, 15mm npl and 2x barlow. Even my daughter who knows nothin about astronomy said " you can see the gap between the rings". Just kep on trying, you will see it.

[Fandango]

Oh excellent. Thanks everyone. I am also hoping to see the shadow if the rings on the planet surface! That would be awesome. Cheers

[Ganymede12]

Would a Sky-Watcher SK707AZ2 be able to see the Cassini division? It has a 70mm objective lens and a 700mm focal length. It includes 25mm and 10mm lenses and a Barlow lens.

[paul schofield]

I never managed it with my 130p, not wishing to put you off but I never seen Cassini Division until I got my 200p. Then I do get very unsteady skies most of the time. Mr Messier managed 110 items from galaxies, clusters, nebulas etc with a telescope much smaller than 130, with a metallic mirror, but then he never had light pollution I guess. Anything is possible with clear seeing. Good luck.

[patomlin76]

Fandango, I've seen it in my 130p. Quite clear. You just need excellent seeing and even then it comes and goes with atmospheric turbulence.

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