Saturn

Click on image for larger version.

The sixth (and some would say prettiest) planet in the solar system. The planet is mostly hydrogen and helium, but the rings are made of little chunks of ice. The dark line in the rings is a gap called the Cassini Division, swept clear of ice chunks by the periodic gravitational tugging of a moon, Mimas, which is in orbital resonance with anything in that gap.

Equipment

16in and 20in RC RC Optical Systems telescope Operating at f/16
Paramount ME Robotic Telescope Mount
SBIG ST10XME CCD camera with color filter wheel

L R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance = 2 seconds (18 x 0.11seconds) binned 1x1
 Red = 4 seconds (16 x 0.25 seconds) binned 1x1
 Green = 4 seconds (16 x 0.25 seconds) binned 1x1
 Blue = 8 seconds (16 x 05. seconds) binned 1x1

  • Data above refers to the top image taken with the 20in RC.
  • There are two moons visible, barely, in the top image.

    • Minimum credit line: Bob Ferguson and Richard Desruisseau/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF (top image)
    Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF (bottom image)

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    Updated: 10/14/2004