Saturn Watch 2003

[kcy]

OK guys I'm thinking of organising a Saturn Watch at then end of this year, which happens to be saturn's opposition to the sun. Below are some details about saturn.

Exact time of opposition : DEC 31, 2003 08:58 PM
In constellation : Gemini
Magnitude : -0.3
Tilt of Saturns rings : -25 Degrees
Saturn rises at : 7:30pm


General Info :

Diameter : 20.7" or 120,536 km
Volume (Earth = 1) : 755
Mass : 5.69 x 1026 kg or 95.2 (Earth = 1)
Density : 0.70 gm/cm3
Surface gravity : 1.16 (Earth = 1)
Rotation period (length of day in Earth days) : 0.44 (10.2 Earth hours)
Revolution period (length of year) : 29.46 Earth years
Mean surface temperature : -139.15 C (-218.47° F)



Some Info on the moons.

Titan 8.4 Mag 5,150 km(Size) 1,221,830 km(Orbital Distance from saturn)
Rhea 9.7 Mag 1,530 km 527,040 km
Tethys 10.3 Mag 1,060 km 294,660 km
Dione 10.4 Mag 1,120 km 377,400 km
Enceladus 11.8 Mag 500 km 238,020 km


All these satellities should be visible with an 5" scope or more.


Next Saturn opposition : 2005 Jan 13
Saturn oppositions occur every one year and two weeks (378.1 days), or 29 times every 30 years.

Similar to the MarsWatch event, I hope to get various polytechnics and JCs involved as well, needless to say Singastro!

Firstly, We have to settle on the date. The 31st is on a wednesday. Any suggestions?

P.S Its my first time organising such a big scaled event. I need all ya help guys!

[Devilname]

OK guys I'm thinking of organising a Saturn Watch at then end of this year, which happens to be saturn's opposition to the sun. Below are some details about saturn.

Exact time of opposition : DEC 31, 2003 08:58 PM
In constellation : Gemini
Magnitude : -0.3
Tilt of Saturns rings : -25 Degrees
Saturn rises at : 7:30pm


General Info :

Diameter : 20.7" or 120,536 km
Volume (Earth = 1) : 755
Mass : 5.69 x 1026 kg or 95.2 (Earth = 1)
Density : 0.70 gm/cm3
Surface gravity : 1.16 (Earth = 1)
Rotation period (length of day in Earth days) : 0.44 (10.2 Earth hours)
Revolution period (length of year) : 29.46 Earth years
Mean surface temperature : -139.15 C (-218.47° F)



Some Info on the moons.

Titan 8.4 Mag 5,150 km(Size) 1,221,830 km(Orbital Distance from saturn)
Rhea 9.7 Mag 1,530 km 527,040 km
Tethys 10.3 Mag 1,060 km 294,660 km
Dione 10.4 Mag 1,120 km 377,400 km
Enceladus 11.8 Mag 500 km 238,020 km


All these satellities should be visible with an 5" scope or more.


Next Saturn opposition : 2005 Jan 13
Saturn oppositions occur every one year and two weeks (378.1 days), or 29 times every 30 years.

Similar to the MarsWatch event, I hope to get various polytechnics and JCs involved as well, needless to say Singastro!

Firstly, We have to settle on the date. The 31st is on a wednesday. Any suggestions?

P.S Its my first time organising such a big scaled event. I need all ya help guys!

the date is too special, because the next day is a new year's day, many of us will be partying the night out...so i dun think many will be free. Sadly for me, i will be working my night shift..sad.

[acc]

What about the first Sat after New Year? That should give pple enough time to recover from all the partying during X'mas and New Year. I suggest the open field near Eunos MRT station.

[kcy]

hmm...looks like a positive suggestion..Is the eunos field ya talking about near remus house?

[acc]

yup. Easy access to food, drinks, toilet and transport...

Or we could select a place with more pedestrian traffic such as somewhere along the Marina waterfront near the Esplanade, or the roof-top terrace of the Esplanade itself. The latter is open to the public but for us to have an event there will probably require their approval.

[Airconvent]

yup. Easy access to food, drinks, toilet and transport...

Or we could select a place with more pedestrian traffic such as somewhere along the Marina waterfront near the Esplanade, or the roof-top terrace of the Esplanade itself. The latter is open to the public but for us to have an event there will probably require their approval.

yup...if we are only looking at saturn, then no need for a dark place.
if we are to promote astonomy, then good that we set up at places of interests such as the esplanade, just like what the people in HK did. however, not sure if we need a license or permission for that?? anyone can confirm? also, be sure to print out some "Singastro" publicity material....you know,. a piece of paper telling the public our website, history and what we do here in singapore..

rich

[harlequin2902]

yup...if we are only looking at saturn, then no need for a dark place.
if we are to promote astonomy, then good that we set up at places of interests such as the esplanade, just like what the people in HK did. however, not sure if we need a license or permission for that?? anyone can confirm?

I think we will firstly need to ask the Police if we need a permit for the event since it's a sort of public entertainment and may be governed by the 'Public Entertainment Act', and we may also need to contact the relevant authorities who owns/manages that plot of land.

[kayheem]

yup...if we are only looking at saturn, then no need for a dark place.
if we are to promote astonomy, then good that we set up at places of interests such as the esplanade, just like what the people in HK did. however, not sure if we need a license or permission for that?? anyone can confirm?

I think we will firstly need to ask the Police if we need a permit for the event since it's a sort of public entertainment and may be governed by the 'Public Entertainment Act', and we may also need to contact the relevant authorities who owns/manages that plot of land.

Good point. When speaking to the property management, it may be good to point out the S&T article on the success of the HKAS and how it can boost the publicity of the place you are using.

However, in case of a crowd, whose responsibilty is it for getting the police to help in crowd control?

Kay Heem

[zong]

There are a lot of letters to be written if we're to engage that public entertaintment act. There's no way it can be done by this year. As to getting the police, i think if we're to engage the authorities for that plot of land then we might'a well inform them there may be a crowd, then ask him if he calls the police or we call....

[Devilname]

What if the crowd becomes like the science centre one? News spreads very fast, one auntie will calls her frens, son, grandsons, daughters..then they will all call their frens, frens' frens, so on and so for...Singapore kiasu country..remember?