Sunday, April 5, 2009

Saturn and the Moon

We are FINALLY getting some spring weather! This weekend, we are blessed with sunny days and clear, cold nights. I took advantage of the weather and got out with my 10" telescope last night to photograph Saturn (my first Saturn images this year!). The Moon was out, too, so I shot some craters while I was at it.....enjoy.....

Because of the changing orientation of Saturn's orbit around the Sun, the rings are viewed "edge-on", as opposed to years past, when the full glory of
the rings were visible as Saturn was tilted toward us.



This over-exposed image shows 3 of Saturn's moons!


...and speaking of moons, here are some images of prime real-estate on the Moon.....


The large crater, Plato. This crater is about 70 miles in diameter! (Note the long valley at the right...)



The crater, Tycho (center) has a large, prominent central peak.


Copernicus has two central peaks!


Mountains on the Moon!







































3 comments:

My Picture blog! said...

Awesome pictures!

Susan Lea Howley said...

Very cool!

Kat said...

Wow, very very cool pictures! Thanks for sharing those.