Saturn at opposition

[Whitters]

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BAA electronic bulletin No. 00219            http://www.britastro.org/
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Observers are reminded that the planet Saturn will come to opposition on
2006 January 27d 22h 48m UT, providing an excellent opportunity to watch for
the 'opposition effect', the apparent surge in brightness of the rings of
Saturn.

The opposition of 2005 January 13d provided a similar opportunity, when an
absolute minimum observable solar phase angle of 0.02 degrees was achieved
and the Earth would have been seen to transit the disk of the Sun as seen by
a hypothetical observer on Saturn. This year, the solar phase angle is 0.04
degrees and the Earth will miss the limb of the Sun as seen from Saturn.

As was the case last January, it is very likely that the rings of Saturn
will appear unusually bright compared to features on the globe of Saturn,
especially Ring B, and observers are cordially requested to send copies of
any observations of the event to the Saturn Section.

For further information on the 'opposition effect' with regard to Saturn's
rings, observers are referred to the Director's article on the subject which
was published in the 'Notes and News' of the 2005 December issue of the
'Journal of the British Astronomical Association'.

David Graham
Section Director