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Looking For Saturn's Lost Ring

Posted by timothy on from the warm-up-your-telescope dept.

An Onimous Cow Herd writes: "For the first time in 30 years, an occultation of Saturn will occur on Feb 20th (N.America/ W.Africa only). The occultation will allow observers to confirm the existance of Saturns fabled lost ring (Schaer's Ring), first detected (but not confirmed) in 1908.
This link gives more information and advice on finding the ring."

1 of 11 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Moon occulting Saturn is NOT rare by CheshireCatCO · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, yes, lunar occulatations are not rare, per se. They should be about as common as eclipses, over all (to within a factor of 10). But the Moon's orbit is inclined 15 degrees to the ecliptic (note: not to Earth's equator, but the ecliptic). That takes it substantially out of the plane of the solar system as seen from Earth. Occultations can only occur when the Moon is at its nodes (cross the ecliptic). That happens twice a month, but then you have to have a planet in the right 1/2 degree of sky at that time.

    So they don't happen quite as often as all that. Plus, it you want to see the planet do cool things, you want a Moon around new. Otherwise, the Moon's light washes out your ability to see much of the planet.