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

  • From: "Jack Jones" <spicastar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 14:57:30 -0700

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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