Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 50

OBSERVING

Celestial Calendar

Saturn at Its Best
Saturn is closest in May and June, with its rings tipped wide open.
As Jupiter sinks westward through the hours of the
night and through the weeks of late spring, Saturn
comes up in the southeast to lure your telescope away.
Saturn reaches opposition on the night of May 22nd:
about two weeks later than it did the previous year, as
always happens. Throughout May and June Saturn
remains essentially at its closest, biggest, and brightest
for 2015. Shining just above the head of Scorpius, Saturn
is fairly far south at declination -18°. (And it will be even
°
farther south until 2021.) So you'll want to stay out late
enough with your telescope for it to approach the sky's
meridian and shine as high as possible. It's nearly there
by 1 a.m. daylight-saving time on May 1st, 11 p.m. on
June 1st, and in late twilight by July 1st.
All this time, Saturn shines strikingly bright at magnitude 0.0 or +0.1. It far outshines Antares, magnitude
+1.0, twinkling some 10° to 13° below or lower left of it.
Saturn's equator appears about 18.5 arcseconds wide in
May and June, and the immense ring system spans 42″,
Saturn's rings
were tilted
22.0° from
our line of
sight when
Damian Peach
took this
extraordinarily
fine image on
April 27, 2014.
At that time,
Saturn's poles
still bumped
a little above
and below the
outer edges
of the A ring.
This year they
don't. South
is up in all
images.

quite a bit wider than Jupiter appears now.
And the rings are almost wide open! They're tilted
from our line of sight by a trace more than 24°. This is
the widest open we've seen the rings since 2005, which
is why Saturn looks unusually bright to the naked eye
this year. When the rings are edge on (as last happened
in 2009), Saturn glows no brighter than Antares.
This high ring tilt means we get fine looks not only at
the rings themselves, but at Saturn's equatorial latitudes, now completely exposed, and at the North Polar
Region, which is tipped both into Earthly view and into
Saturnian summer sunlight. (Saturn's equator is exactly
aligned with the rings.) A challenge for imagers under
the best conditions will be the Polar Hexagon, slightly
darker and perhaps a bit greener than the rest of the
North Polar Region. The finest amateur imaging can
show that the Hexagon is indeed six-sided rather that
round, even though this feature went undiscovered until
the Cassini Saturn orbiter sent back shots from close up.

SOUTH

C ring on globe

Direction of rotation
Cassini Division

Encke Gap

Rings

A

B

C

Equatorial Zone
North Equatorial Belt

North Polar Region

Shadow of globe on rings
NORTH

50

June 2015 sky & telescope



Sky and Telescope - June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - June 2015

Contents
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - Cover1
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - Cover2
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 3
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - Contents
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 5
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - A
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - B
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 6
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 7
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 8
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 9
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 10
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 11
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 12
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 13
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 14
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 15
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 16
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 17
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 18
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 19
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 20
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 21
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 22
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 23
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 24
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 25
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 26
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 27
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 28
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 29
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 30
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 31
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 32
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 33
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 34
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 35
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 36
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 37
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 38
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 39
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 40
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 41
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 42
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 43
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 44
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 45
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 46
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 47
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 48
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 49
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 50
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 51
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 52
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 53
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 54
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 55
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 56
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 57
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 58
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 59
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 60
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 61
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 62
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 63
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 64
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 65
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 66
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 67
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 68
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 69
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 70
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 71
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 72
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 73
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 74
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 75
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 76
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 77
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 78
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 79
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 80
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 81
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 82
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 83
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 84
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 85
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - 86
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - Cover3
Sky and Telescope - June 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com