Saturn's rings - at last!!!

[ian_d]

Friends, tonight represents a momentous occasion for me - my first view of Saturn's rings.

After a meeting of the Cotswold Astronomical Society a few of us went outside to see what we could see; one of the organisers had brought along a telescope (a fairly modest refractor from what I could see, maybe 80mm or so?) and he trained it on Saturn.

Despite a fairly wobbly tripod, I took a look and - no mistake! - there was Saturn plus rings. Not quite clear enough to make out the "gap" between the planet and the rings themselves, but the extent of the rings was definitely there. No "averted imagination" required.

At the risk of sounding like Mr Very Easily Pleased, I was genuinely thrilled to see this - and it's made me want to see so, so much more.

In the grand scheme of things, a small victory no doubt - but to coin a phrase, that's one giant leap for my astronomy habit.

Ian

[Ant]

Everybody remembers their first Saturn. It ranks right up there with the first view of the moon through a scope.

Saturn is a stunner mate! It will always bring a smile to your face!

Ant

[jgs001]

Ian, Congratulations. I got my first look at Saturn a week or so ago, and it's absolutely stunning.

[bmann]

Hi Ian, like you I have just seen Saturn for the first time. Fantastic, well done us.

Bob

[algol]

saw my first about a month back now ian and i still love it, go back to it every night i'm out at least twice a night.

guess its gonna feel pretty weird come summer when he;s gone.