http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2003/12/30/1072546532330.html
Move over Mars. The ringed planet of Saturn, probably the most spectacular planet, will be the closest it has been to Earth in more than 30 years tomorrow. Saturn is visible with the naked eye, although viewing the rings requires a small telescope. But the view will be rewarding - Saturn's rings are now, as seen from Earth, at maximum tilt, about 25 degrees. At other times - 1995, for example - the thin rings have presented an edge-on view and seem to disappear. Perry Vlahos, president of the Astronomical Society of Victoria, said people were always impressed when seeing Saturn for the first time through a telescope. "Apart from the moon, the most stunning sight to them, that leaves them breathless, is Saturn." Even through a telescope, stars and planets could look like dots, he said. But Saturn's rings brought the planet to life. "The rings appear to have a 3-D effect because the shadow of the planet falls on the rings," he said. "It's a stunning effect." Earth and Saturn make a close approach, or opposition, about once a year. However, Saturn is making its closest approach to the Sun since January 1974, making this opposition closer than usual. Mr Vlahos said Saturn would not be as bright as Mars was in August, and Jupiter and Venus were also brighter at the moment. Saturn is the second largest of the solar system's nine planets, but the fourth most remote. Only Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which are invisible to the naked eye, are further away. However, Mr Vlahos said Saturn's rings would swell its appearance through a telescope. "Taking the rings into consideration, it will be about twice the width of Mars." Saturn, more than nine times Earth's diameter, is made of gas. It is about 1.2 billion kilometres away - more than 20 times further than Mars was in August. But Saturn is 17 times the diameter of Mars. Mr Vlahos said four or five of the planet's moons might be visible, including Titan - the only known moon with a thick atmosphere. NASA's Cassini craft, due to reach Saturn next year, is scheduled to drop a probe into Titan. Saturn is rising in the north-east about 7.57pm and setting in the north-west about 5.57am, passing 30 degrees above due north about 1am. xponent Running Rings Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
