Main Astronomical Index.
Ringless Saturn on August 10th 1995 .

The rings of Saturn seem to disappear every 14.7 years on average when the earth crosses the ring plane. The next time is in 2009, but Saturn will not be well placed in a dark sky until the 2038 - 2039 crossing.
I remember observing with the 0.32m and Saturn showed only some weak belts and the darker shadow of the ring. Then 3 days later I saw this impressive sharp mathematical glowing line which was the return of the ring system.

Saturn 10.August 1995 Universal Time : 23.30, Telescope : 0.32m f/35 Exposure time and film: 1 sec. on Ektachrome 200 Digitized by me.

I also remember the back lit dark ring in December 1995, when the sun was shining on the top of the ring system and we could observe the other side.

Saturn ( Same as in Page 2 ). Universal Time : 21.30, 19.September 1998 Telescope : 0.61m f/41 Exposure time and film: 3 sec. Hypersensitized Tech.Pan 2415 Digitized by me.

Over exposed Saturn and 6 moons. Universal Time : 23:38 28 October 1998 Telescope : 0.15m f/16 Integration time : 3 X 10 sec. ST-4 ( Sum of three 10 sec. pictures. )

Saturn through red filter. Universal Time : 22:58 2 November 1998 Telescope : 0.61m f/15 Integration time : 2 x 0.1 sec. ST-4

Saturn. Exposure time : 0.3 seconds Date : 23 August 1999 Time : 02.38 UT. 25 cm f/20 ST-4 CCD

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