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Saturn Peeks Out Behind the Moon
By Joe Rao
(Feb. 2) -- Watching the full Moon rise over the east-northeast horizon, you will probably notice a rather bright yellowish-white “star” shining sedately just above and to the Moon’s right. That object is not a star, however, but the planet Saturn.
Currently, Saturn is at its best for 2007. It can be found to the west (right) of the famous “Sickle” of Leo—a backwards question mark-shaped star pattern, which contains Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, at the Sickle’s base. On Feb. 10, Saturn will be at opposition to the Sun, meaning it will be rising at sunset, reaches its highest point in the southern sky at midnight then drops down below the west-northwest horizon at sunrise. In other words, it’s now available for viewing all night long.
Saturn is the telescopic showpiece of the night sky, thanks to its great ring system in all of their icy, glimmering elegance. In small telescopes, they surprise even veteran observers with their chilling beauty even though it is expected. Certainly they will delight anyone this winter who received a telescope as a holiday gift. Any telescope magnifying more than 30-power will show them.
source: http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles...00010000000001
By Joe Rao
(Feb. 2) -- Watching the full Moon rise over the east-northeast horizon, you will probably notice a rather bright yellowish-white “star” shining sedately just above and to the Moon’s right. That object is not a star, however, but the planet Saturn.
Currently, Saturn is at its best for 2007. It can be found to the west (right) of the famous “Sickle” of Leo—a backwards question mark-shaped star pattern, which contains Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, at the Sickle’s base. On Feb. 10, Saturn will be at opposition to the Sun, meaning it will be rising at sunset, reaches its highest point in the southern sky at midnight then drops down below the west-northwest horizon at sunrise. In other words, it’s now available for viewing all night long.
Saturn is the telescopic showpiece of the night sky, thanks to its great ring system in all of their icy, glimmering elegance. In small telescopes, they surprise even veteran observers with their chilling beauty even though it is expected. Certainly they will delight anyone this winter who received a telescope as a holiday gift. Any telescope magnifying more than 30-power will show them.
source: http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles...00010000000001
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