Saturn


Astronomical Events – Then and Now

A few days ago (Dec. 14th) there was a total solar eclipse visible across South America.  Reports from Chile were disappointing, as unexpected clouds blocked the view.  Fortunately, things were a little better in Argentina, where my friend, Leo Cavagnaro, was in just the right spot to see and photograph it.  He reports that it was very windy, and this was due to the same weather system that brought the clouds over Chile, but it was mostly clear where he was.  In the above photo, taken during totality, the Moon neatly blocks the view of the Sun, but we can […]


Saturn Visits the Edge of the Milky Way

Another photo from last weekend’s star party: You might recognize the area in the lower right corner from earlier photos I’ve posted.  The large yellow/red blob is the star Antares (bloated by its extreme brightness), to its right is the globular cluster M4, and above that, surrounded by blue dust, is the Rho Ophiuchi complex.  But this very wide field image (more than 25 degrees across) shows how this area resides at the edge of the Milky Way.  The dense stars and dust of the Milky Way appear as glowing red and black on the left edge, gradually fading to […]