Observation Data
Location: Atlanta, GA (33.7384° N, 84.4234° W)
Date and Time: 2023-08-26, 00:05 – 00:49 EDT
Sky conditions: Seeing – Good, Transparency – Mag 4
Instrument: Celestron C8 SCT @f/20, Aperture 203.3mm, Focal length: 2023
Mount: Advanced VX
Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)
Reticle Device: N/A
Imaging Equipment: ZWO ASI 224MC, 2x Barlow, ADC, UV/IR Cut filter
Image type and sensor: CMOS, IMX224 1/3″ sensor
Image capture details: Start capture: 00:46 EDT, End capture: 00:49 EDT, Exposure: 100ms, Gain: 347, best 20% stacked of 1931 frames Software: ASICap, ASIVideoStack, Photoshop
Project Objectives
Saturn is the most impressive object in the solar system and surely one of the most beautiful. Saturn is the only ringed planet whose rings are visible in the amateur’s telescope. On a clear steady night, nothing rivals the sharp divisions and contrast seen in Saturn’s ring system.
Make a sketch or image of what you see. Place an arrow on your drawing (or image) to indicate the direction of drift when your scope is not tracking. Include observation data and impressions.
Impressions
Something really neat happens when you observe Saturn near opposition, the Seeliger Effect.
The Seeliger Effect, also known as opposition surge, is a phenomenon observed in astronomy when a celestial body, such as a planet or moon, appears significantly brighter when it is directly opposite the Sun in the sky. This alignment enhances the backscattering of sunlight, causing an increase in brightness. During opposition, the Earth is situated between the Sun and the celestial body, creating optimal conditions for this effect. The surge is particularly noticeable in planetary observations, leading to a momentary increase in brightness and a reduction in shadows on the surface. This phenomenon can be seen in my image above, taking note that the rings are brighter, and the planet’s shadow cannot be seen on the rings.