[AZ-Observing] Re: Encke minima/gap, was Re: Observing the weekend of Jan 2-5, 2003

  • From: "Gene A. Lucas" <geneluca@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 18:40:24 -0700

There will be perpetual discussion about such visual observations as this.
Yes, someone claimed to have seen (and reported) the "spokes" in the rings
(likely caused by harmonic gravitational influences on the ring "particles"
from the Saturnian satellites) prior to the Voyager missions.

I can state unequivocally that I have observed the Encke division, because
some years ago Leroy Paller, Gerry Rattley and myself successfully observed
and videotaped the occultation of a star in Sagittarius that passed behind
the rings, as seen from Palo Verde Observatory in central Phoenix.  The star
repeatedly dimmed and brightened and dimmed again, as it passed behind the
successive rings of material over the course of several hours.  (Many other
observers saw and videotaped and photographed the occultation, from several
locations.)
Gene Lucas
(17250)

Jack Jones wrote:

> Something is there and there are many drawings to prove it. Kerry saw
> the darkening so that must qualify. I don't think Encke ever saw it, he
> just talked about it the most. Call it a dark area which is forever
> changing in width and position. But some have not seen that, but just
> the contrast effect in the A ring between the lighter inner and darker
> outer part and call that seeing the gap. Also your eyes will water (or
> dry out) from staring and you'll see something until you blink, or the
> seeing can affect the edge and make it look double. Unless you are
> orbiting Saturn, it is better called a 'minimum' rather than a 'gap'
> like Cassini definitely is. Cassini is some 4000km wide and Encke is
> like 300, excuse my facts if not so. The eye is good at picking out
> impossibly fine lines. Spokes were seen before spacecraft saw them,
> right?
>
> Jack
>
> > Jack,
> >
> > Clear this up for me, then: Am I right to say that the "Encke minima"
> is
> > the gap unresolved? Or is it something else altogether? If I am right,
> > then I am pretty sure I have seen the "minima." If not, I may have
> > fooled
> > myself again . . .
> >
> > Matt
>
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