Beginner looking at saturn.

[trickytree]

Sitting in garden with my 10x50s on a tripod wishing the rings of Saturn would magically appear .... sigh

[oldfruit]

Hi, you will be able to find Saturn, even without binoculars but you will need a telescope to see the rings.

[brantuk]

Come to the next EMS meeting - you'll see Saturn in a scope for sure

[trickytree]

Oh I see Saturn itself, just impatiently waiting for my first view of the rings!!

[trickytree]

I will Brantuk, looking forward to it very much!!

[brantuk]

For a decent view you need at least 150x magnification. 10x50 binocs will only magnify 10x - they'll show a lot more detail of the moon than usual and reveal stars in apparently empty areas of sky.

Look up the Beehive Cluster in Stellarium for a "great in binocs" open cluster.

[trickytree]

Will do, got to get Stellarium now.

[Lux1]

10x50 binocs will only magnify 5x - they'll show a lot more detail of the moon than usual and reveal stars in apparently empty areas of sky.

(I'm sure it's just a typo, - 10x 50 binoculars will magnify 10 times with a 50mm light gathering aperture.)

Saturn's rings are possible to view at less than 50x, but you will need good eyesight. It will be impossible to really separate the ring from the planet however.

[John]

I've just been looking at Saturn with my binoculars - I can make out the rings and the gap between them and the planet. I've also spotted the moons Titan and Rhea which I'm pleased about with the bright moon nearby and Rhea being around magnitude 10.

I ought to say though that these binoculars are 25x100's

My old tripod is groaning under their weight though .........

I've not been able to resolve the rings with my 10x50's though I reckon I have spotted Titan occasionally when it's been well elongated from the planet.

[brantuk]

Thanks Lux - corrected my post

[Lux1]

Brantuk, - hope I didn't cause offence, I would have normally minded my own business. However, as this was posted in the Beginners Section I thought some people might have been confused by a 10x50 that magnifies just 5x.

I know I would!

[12inchDoB]

Come to the next EMS meeting - you'll see Saturn in a scope for sure

you guys all meet up?

Where when?

[stick]

keep looking trickytree

its well worth it when you see it

best of luck

stick