Amateur astronomers sought to measure the brightness of Saturn's moons on Jan. 13 


Sky & Telescope reports that "Anne Verbiscer (Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia) and Richard G. French (Department of Astronomy, Wellesley College) are coordinating a NASA-funded, worldwide campaign to measure the brightness of [the] moons [of Saturn] as close as possible to the time of the alignment [of the Sun, Earth and Saturn on Jan 13]." They are seeking participation from amateurs with CCD-equipped telescopes of almost any size and with good optics. 

The astronomers hope to gather information about the surface composition and thermal and weathering history of some of Saturn's moons. The unusual alignment of the Sun, Earth and Saturn won't happen again until 2020. 

Posted: Sunday - January 09, 2005 at 01:47 PM          

©