Waiting for Saturn.

[cotterless45]

Up and out early, quite warm , later temperature just plunged giving a light dew. Not easy with the moon up.

Good view of a very bright NGC 6543 ( "Cat's eye nebula") in the head of Draco.Not a lot else doing, had a look at the "double double" and it's "other". Catch Sheliak, so many companions , it looks like an open cluster. The whole Summer Triangle was high up, M39, NGC 6910 and M29 were enjoyed in light skies. Difficult to pick up M71 and M56, but they were there. Nothing doing with Jupiter, it was very stable taking over x200.

Finally Saturn cleared the houses and what a view in the frac,sitting on the rings . Not wide open, enough to get the Cassini and storm belts on the surface. It was still obvious to eye at 5.30. Had a shot of drawing it, but it's come off cad in reality. Just perfect symmetry with Titan nearby, really stunning. 

Very enjoyable even with the moon ,

Clear skies ! Nick.

[cloudsweeper]

Another informative and inspiring report, Nick.  Hope to be out tonight to do something similar!

Doug.

[DRT]

Nice one, Nick. I was up at the same time this morning and thought about Saturn but when I looked out it still hadn't cleared my neighbour's roof

Looking forward to another good day of Solar action  

[kerrylewis]

3 minutes ago, DRT said:

Nice one, Nick. I was up at the same time this morning and thought about Saturn but when I looked out it still hadn't cleared my neighbour's roof

Looking forward to another good day of Solar action  

Same here. I got up yesterday with Saturn in mind but there is a big lump of a house in the way. I may have to try my flat roof emergency viewing area because, as far as I can see, it's never going to be very high this time around. 

[wookie1965]

Cannot wait see Saturn again great report as usual.

[laudropb]

Very nice report Nick. Last week I had the pleasure of viewing Saturn from the truly dark skies at Astrofarm in Confolens France. Of course the more Southernly latitude helped greatly and it was a truely magnificent sight using an ED 120  at a mag of 150x

Edited April 9, 2017 by laudropb

[Pondus]

Interesting report (as always). Also nice to see a report including Saturn again.

Very doubtful I get to see much of this planet until 2022 or something (living at 59N).

 

Rune

[kerrylewis]

Set up the Ioptron mount on my small area of flat roof and managed to catch Saturn for the first proper view in a  while. I have to get me and the equipment out of a window and watch my step but at least the bright moon meant I could see my way  and not fall off the edge!

At around 4.30 Saturn was still low but at least visible low in the south from this location. Seeing was average and the planet only occasionally snapped into a clear view with the Cassini division visible. All worth it though to see the best sight in the solar system. The Vixen 150 would have given a better view than the 100ED I'm sure  but there is little chance of setting that up on the roof!

Quick look at Jupiter which was close to the moon in the west but that bright moon pretty much bleached out everything else. Back to bed. 

 

 

[Littleguy80]

Seeing Saturn through a telescope was an inspiration for getting a telescope. I'm yet to see it but after reading this, I think I'll have to set an alarm next time the early hours are looking clear

Edited April 11, 2017 by Littleguy80

[kerrylewis]

26 minutes ago, Littleguy80 said:

Seeing Saturn through a telescope was a. If inspiration for getting a telescope. I'm yet to see it but after reading this, I think I'll have to set an alarm next time the early hours are looking clear

Yes, give it a go. It's not going to be very high in the sky this time around (or the next few times for that matter!) but if you have a clear view to the south then 4 to 5am is a good time. 

[alan potts]

Nice one Nick as always from you, I saw Saturn this morning at 4 O'clock as I got up for a moment or two, very low though even from here so must be poorly placed from the UK.

Alan

[cotterless45]

It's quite good a few hours before dawn from here in Middle Earth. Just takes a bit of get up and go to get out of bed ! 

Old Nick.

[elliot]

I recently bought Celestron 20x80 bins and was up early one morning before the cock had crowed.  SkySafari told me that Saturn was in between two neighbours houses and I was able to spot it through the pre sunrise glow - I could just about tell it wasn't completely round. I was so chuffed...had a grin on my face all day.

[DRT]

8 minutes ago, elliot said:

I recently bought Celestron 20x80 bins and was up early one morning before the cock had crowed.  SkySafari told me that Saturn was in between two neighbours houses and I was able to spot it through the pre sunrise glow - I could just about tell it wasn't completely round. I was so chuffed...had a grin on my face all day.

I think many of us here would rate our first sight of Saturn as one of the top WOW! moments. Quite a spectacular sight

 

[elliot]

Wasn't my first siting, but to see it through binoculars with an orange sky in the...background (you know what I mean)...was amazing.

[jabeoo1]

I must shake myself out of bed soon.  There was a missed opportunity the other week which was gutting, then when I did manage to get up the cloud had stolen the show