Saturn Moon Occultation England Ireland Collabortion Image

This image is the result of a post event collaboration with fellow astronomer Dee, who was mutually observing, sketching, and meeting her Moon many miles away when Saturn was occulted!


The recent Saturn occultation was, for me, very different from my usual meetings with the Moon - it began during early evening daylight and I had company, so on this occasion I chose primarily to watch and photograph the event rather than pursue my usual solitary sketching. First sight was through binoculars – the beautiful silver Moon in a baby blue sky, with Saturn an easily visible nearby pinprick of light. The low power telescopic view was breathtaking, the ghostly planet clearly visible against the cobalt sky. The first moment of disappearance was somehow unexpected – the lunar limb was completely invisible! The Moon slipped past at seemingly shocking speed. A little over an hour later, with reappearance eagerly anticipated, the creamy yellow planet did not disappoint as first the rings, then the globe, sped back into view. As the celestial pair parted after their brief encounter, the higher contrast afforded by the darkening skies provided a beautiful finale - a low power telescopic view encompassing Saturn and Titan, with the Moon now subtly lit with earthshine.

Sally Russell

Berkshire, England

Technical details (photos):

105mm F6 Astro-Physics Traveler on LXD55 mount

40mm camera projection eyepiece

Sony DSC-F505V (Saturn area contrast enhanced in blue sky image).

Timings? I was enjoying the view too much to note them down!

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Sally and Dee Rhapsody in Blue May 22nd 2007

I was not expecting to catch a glimpse of Saturn in a daylight sky, no way was I ready for that amazing vision. In my first look there was the white ringed planet right in front of me, in a blue blue sky heading into the invisible limb of the moon.

I just had to try to capture it, in some way, so I drew it quickly on black paper and then watched and waited until she began to vanish into nothing!!

I set up my easel and I began to sketch the moon through wispy cloud while I waited for Saturn to emerge from behind the lunar sphere. As she reappeared one hour or so later there was a wonderful change in her color against the darker sky. She was so tangerine, she was so beautiful. Saturn and her invisible icy orbs appeared to be flying along as our moon moved and glided out of her majestic way.



When Sally showed me her stunning photographs just this week I was delighted to relive those moments through these images of a view we shared many miles apart.



Deirdre Kelleghan

Bray, Co Wicklow Ireland

200mm Reflector/10mm eyepiece – 120X 19:01UT

200mm Reflector/ Binoviewer 20mm eyepieces/2X Barlow – 120X 20:09 UT

300gm paper/Soft Pastels/Quiling Needle

My sketch made Astronomy Sketch of the Day today June 8th

www.asod.info/

Deirdre Kelleghan
Irish Astronomical Society
www.irishastrosoc.org

Flippin' 'ek! Side by side with actual photographs, your sketch is just as detailed!

Hats off to you kiddo!

Phil.

PS - Interesting to see the parallax effect from the different observing locations!

Wonderful work ladies it adds a whole different dimesion to our beautiful hobby keep it up, cant wait to see the next sketch Dee.

Very cool! Nice one Dee!

That’s truly wonderful work Deirdre and good to see collaboration between fellow astronomers. You have a definite and unique talent in your methods of mixing art with science and applying them to great effect which you should be very proud of indeed. For me, I sure would like to see an exhibition of your work in real life instead of on a PC screen; do you have plans for such and event in the near future, in Dublin perhaps?

Clear skies
Mike

Verrry cool work!

Seanie.