I resolved to make the most of the favourable seeing and wait for Saturn. The declinations of the two planets are still currently similar so I knew the giant planet would be suitably placed for observation in about five hours hence. Just after midnight I was back behind the telescope. The telescope in particular was now covered with thick frost but like earlier I had taken the precaution to put a bag over the eyepiece and objective. With the naked eye Saturn looks like a bright, yellowish star of magnitude +0.2 closely resembling the northern star Capella in brightness and colour although unlike the star it shines with a steady light. The planet is currently in the constellation Cancer.

For Saturn I find my 12.5m/m eyepiece the most suitable. When I took my first look through the telescope, I knew the five hour vigil had not been in vain. Encke's division was still visible. Cassini's division was prominent and black. The SEB again was double but unlike before I could only see the STB. It seemed to me to be just a fraction broader than on the 21st. The shadow of the ring could be seen as a fine black line on the planet's globe (under the ring) as well as the even more obvious black shadow of the globe on the rings. Of the planet's moons Titan below and to the right of the planet was very obvious but Rhea near eastern elongation (on the right) was also clear. As with Mars earlier, I finished my drawing of Saturn indoors. As always, I leave the instrument outside to check my drawing. It was now around 01.30 GMT on the 30th and it was perishing outside. After an enjoyable night with the planets it was time to turn in and thaw myself out.

TILT      17.7                           SATURN

Date 30/11/2005 U.T 0035

P Parish   ******************