Saturn Opposition Shootout

[starfinder]

In conjunction with the current Saturn Opposition season, I'm proposing a get together for a Saturn shootout.

The objective is to observe the queen of the planets through a variety of telescope designs and apertures. Would be a good occasion to compare eyepieces too.

Since it's a public holiday tomrw, I suggest having the Saturn Opposition Shootout tomrw evening (Wed 1st May) at 8pm onwards. At somewhere fairly central.

Any interest?

Would be great if the large apertures, apos, and specialised designs could grace the occasion!

I've been observing Saturn this evening through my LX-90 8" SCT and my Skywatcher 120mm ED. The views through both are quite good. In particular, I was surprised at what I could see in the 120mm, e.g. the Crepe ring and two tones on the globe were easily seen; eyepiece was a Pentax 20mm XW with a 3x apo barlow for 135x, and then a Pentax 14mm XL with the same barlow for 193x. The planet was quite bright, sharp and in high contrast.

I would bring the 120mm ED on a goto German equatorial mount with those eyepieces.

Calling planetary watchers to the Saturn Opposition Shootout 2013.

[Gary]

@Starfinder - Weather permitting, if my schedule permits and I am not too tired from yesterday's overnight session at Bishan Park, I may conduct a sidewalk with a 10" dob outside Toa Payoh Public Library tonight. If it's on, you (and anyone else for that matter) are most welcomed to come take a look with or without your telescope for a comparison.

Regarding your Saturn observation last night, did you manage to observe through your 8" SCT at about the same magnification (135x, 193x)? Any comments on the details that can or cannot be observed through the SCT compared to your 120mm ED refractor?

[antares2063]

The weather looks abit cloudy now though...

[rcj]

will not mind joining in the fun if weather and time permits. do let us know where u will be, starfinder.

[starfinder]

It's very cloudy now, with both high and low level clouds. Unlikely will go ahead tonight; let's try to hold it another night, e.g. this Sat night?


(@Gary: With the 8" SCT, I viewed Saturn at 300x and with a binoviewer only. Compared with the 120mm ED, in the 8" scope I saw more mottling texture in the 'A' ring at the far ends, a gradation of brightness in the 'B' ring at the far ends near the 'C' ring, greater gradation in colour within the two main colour halves esp the northern side (the larger side now), and a suspected feature near the north polar region which seemed to be there but I could not see it for sure. In the 120mm ED, the globe was a bit sharper and more defined against the rings, and a bit more lifelike; it could be due to the lack of a large central obstruction. Anyway, I plan to slightly tweak the collimation in the SCT when viewing Saturn at 300x to see if the image improves. The 120mm ED seemed to be reaching its maximum optimal view at 193x, whereas the 8" handled 300x with some capacity to spare.)

[Gary]

@Starfinder - Thanks for the reply and sharing of your observations. They are quite similar to my experiences comparing side-by-side 8" SCTs with 4"/5" achros/APOs in Johor and Singapore.