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Ultimate Webcam: Rent Time On A CCD Telescope

Posted by timothy on from the work-for-hire dept.

leighklotz writes "I saw an ad for this in Science News and visited the site: http://www.arnierosner.com offers CCD-based telescopes that you control, from his mountaintop in Arizona. $50 for an hour's tiem gets you started. Too bad I hadn't read this last week when Saturn's rings were at their peak." I bet this gives some entrepreneurial ideas ...

2 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Saturn's Rings by Jade+E.+2 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Too bad I hadn't read this last week when Saturn's rings were at their peak

    It's okay, they took the pictures for you... http://www.arnierosner.com/ccd/wallpaper/saturn/ (Actually those are older, sometime before Oct. 11, but they're still sweet.)

    1. Re:Saturn's Rings by spaceyhackerlady · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yep, those do look kinda familiar.

      Saturn was at opposition last week, and thus as close as it can get to Earth. However, the view will be favourable until well in to the new year (it starts to deteriorate in April).

      The rings will remain at about their maximum tilt for a couple of years yet. It's far from the all-or-nothing-one-night-in-a-lifetime spectacle the science news folks would have you believe. Try JPL's Solar System Simulator to see how slowly the rings change. Saturn's 29.5 year orbit, y'know.

      I had an excellent view last night while testing a new telescope, and saw four moons while I was at it. I expect to see the rings well until 2007 or so.

      ...laura