From: Richard Hill (rhill@LPL.Arizona.EDU) Date: November 30, 1994 Hi Dan, I hate to say it but I not only saw the edge on presentation of Saturn's rings 15 years ago, but in 1967 as well! I had just gotten my RV-6 Dynascope (6"f/8 Newt.) and made my first drawings of Saturn with it. At the last presentation I noted mutual events of the satellites and some shadow transits. It was great fun. I am attaching an ephemeris of solar system events for next year that may be useful to you. Note that the first ring plane crossing is 22 May and from that time to 11 Aug. (the next ring plane crossing) we will see the south side of the rings. Most of that time, 22 May- 08 Aug this side will be unlighted too. I can think of one "goofy" thing that might happen during a ring plane crossing of the sun. This will take place within a fortnight of our crossing so for that period and a little beyond we will be essentially coplanar. If the ice and such in the rings is aligned by the magnetic field as some suggest then perhaps there will be a brightening. I should do a little research here and ask around to see if that is the case and if the phenomenon has been looked for. I'll let you know. -Rik ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR 1995 Including aspects and circumstances of the moon, sun, planets and asteroids brighter than 10th magnitude. U.T. MO-DY-HR+MIN 01-01-1056 NEW MOON-Lunation 891 begins Mercury greatest Lat. S. 654 Zelinda opposition (mag. 10.0) 01-02-19 2 Pallas stationary Quadrantid meteors peak (20-80/hr) 01-04-01 Mars stationary 01 Mercury 1.7 deg. S. of Uranus 11 Perihelion (Earth) 01-05-17 Saturn 7 deg. S. of Moon 01-08-1546 1st QUARTER MOON 01-11-22 Moon at apogee 01-13-12 Venus greatest Elong. W. (47 deg.) 17 Neptune conjunction 01-14-09 Venus 3 deg. N. of Jupiter 01-15-22 Venus 8 deg. N. of Antares 15 Echo opposition (mag. 10.0) 01-16-2026 FULL MOON 01-17-00 Uranus conjunction 01-19-08 Mercury greatest Elong. E. (19deg) 19 Mars 9 deg. N. of Moon 19 Fortuna opposition (mag. 10.0) 01-20 Venus greatest Lat. N. Mercury ascending Node 01-23-01 Jupiter 5 deg. N. of Antares 11 Moon occults Spica (N.Amer.) 01-24-0458 3rd QUARTER MOON 01-25-12 Mercury stationary Mercury perihelion 01-26-17 Jupiter 1.7 deg. S. of Moon 01-27-12 Moon occults Venus (not in N.Amer.) 23 Moon at perigee 01-28-18 Mars 4 deg. N. of Regulus 01-29-20 Neptune 4 deg. S. of Moon 01-30-2248 NEW MOON-Lunation 892 begins 02-02-08 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 02-03-01 1 Ceres minimum distance (1.597 A.U.) 23 Mercury inf. conjunction 02-04 Mercury greatest Lat. N. Mars greatest Lat. N. 02-06 1 Ceres opposition (mag. 6.9) 02-07-1254 1st QUARTER MOON 02-08-18 Moon at apogee 02-11-14 Mars closest (0.6757 A.U.) 20 4 Vesta stationary 02-12-03 Mars opposition 02-15-10 Mars 10 deg. N. of Moon 1215 FULL MOON 19 Mercury stationary 02-19-17 Moon occults Spica (not in N.Amer.) 02-22-1304 3rd QUARTER MOON 02-23-02 Moon at perigee 05 Jupiter 2 deg. S. of Moon 02-26-05 Neptune 4 deg. S. of Moon 10 Venus 0.7 deg. N. of Neptune 13 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 02-27-11 Mercury 5 deg. S. of Moon 02-28 Mercury descending node 03-01-11 Mercury greatest Elong. W. (27 deg.) 1148 New moon-Lunation 893 begins 03-02-05 Venus 1.5 deg. N. of Uranus 03-06-02 Sat. conjunction 10 Pluto stationary 03-08-15 Moon at apogee 03-09-1014 1st QUARTER MOON 03-10 Mercury aphelion 03-14-04 Mars 9 deg. N. of Moon Mars aphelion 9 Metis opposition (mag. 9.3) 03-17-0126 FULL MOON Venus descending node 03-19-00 Moon occults Spica (not in N.Amer.) 03-20-13 Moon at perigee 03-21-0214 Spring Equinox 03-22-14 Jupiter 2 deg. S. of Moon 03-23-13 1 Ceres stationary 2010 3rd QUARTER MOON 03-25-12 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 17 Mars stationary 03-26-00 Mercury 0.6 deg. S. of Saturn 03-28-04 Venus 6 deg. S. of Moon 03-29-13 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 03-30-01 Mercury 6 deg. S. of Moon Mercury greatest lat. S. 03-31-0209 NEW MOON-Lunation 894 begins 04-01-13 Jupiter stationary 04-05-10 Moon at apogee 04-08-0535 1st QUARTER MOON 04-09 27 Euterpe opposition (mag. 9.9) 04-10-14 Mars 8 deg. N. of Moon 04-13-17 Venus 0.6 deg. No of Saturn 04-14-13 Mercury sup. conjunction 04-15-09 Moon occults Spica (most of N.Amer.) 1208 FULL MOON-eclipse* 04-17-08 Moon at perigee 04-18-21 Jupiter 3 deg. N. of Moon Mercury ascending node 04-20 Venus aphelion 04-21-18 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon April Lyrid meteor shower peak 04-22-0318 3rd QUARTER MOON 04 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 04-23 Mercury perihelion 04-24-09 3 Juno stationary 04-27-05 Venus 4 deg. S. of Moon 21 Neptune stationary 04-29-1736 NEW MOON-Lunation 895 begins-eclipse* 05-01-05 Mercury 4 deg. N. of Moon 05-03-01 Moon at apogee Mercury greatest lat. N. Eta Aqr. meteors peak (20/hr) 05-05-11 Uranus stationary 05-07-2144 1st QUARTER MOON 05-08-14 Mars 7 deg. N. of Moon 05-10-16 Mercury 8 deg. N. of Aldebaran 05-12-02 Mercury greatest elong. E. (22deg) 20 Moon occults Spica (not in N.Amer.) Venus greatest lat. S. 05-14-2048 FULL MOON 05-15-15 Moon at perigee 05-16-02 Jupiter 2 deg. S. of Moon 05-19-01 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 10 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 05-20-17 Pluto opposition (m=13.7) 05-21-1136 3rd QUARTER MOON 05-22-08 Saturn ring plane crossing 05-23-11 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 05-24-07 Mars 1.1 deg. N. of Regulus 16 Mercury stationary 63 Ausonia opposition (mag. 9.8) 05-27-07 Moon occults Venus (not in N.Amer.) Mercury descending node 05-29-0927 NEW MOON-Lunation 896 begins 05-30-08 Moon at apogee 06-01-11 Jupiter opposition 06-03 Jupiter closest (4.3247 A.U.) 06-05-06 Mercury inf. conjunction 20 Mars 6 deg. N. of Moon 06-06-1026 1st QUARTER MOON Mercury aphelion 06-09-06 Moon occults Spica (Canada) 06-12-08 Jupiter 2 deg. S. of Moon 06-13-01 Moon at perigee 0403 FULL MOON 06-14-14 Jupiter 5 deg. N. of Antares 06-15-10 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 19 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 21 Mercury 1.2 deg. N. of Aldebaran June Lyrid meteor shower peak 06-17-06 Mercury stationary 06-18-14 Mercury 1.1 deg. N. of Aldebaran 3 Juno opposition (mag. 10.0) 06-19-05 Venus 5 deg. N. of Aldebaran 07 Mercury 4 deg. S. of Venus 19 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 2201 3rd QUARTER MOON 06-20 Ophiuchid meteor shower peak 06-21-2034 Summer Solstice 06-24 3 Juno closest (2.237 A.U.) 06-26-02 Moon occults Mercury (NW of N.Amer.) 11 Moon at apogee Mercury greatest lat. S. 06-28-0050 NEW MOON-Lunation 897 begins 06-29-16 Mercury greatest Elong. W. (22 deg.) 07-04-02 Aphelion (Earth) 05 Mars 4 deg. N. of Moon 07-05-2002 1st QUARTER MOON 07-07-11 Saturn stationary 07-08 Venus ascending node 07-09-13 Jupiter 2 deg. S. of Moon 07-11-10 Moon at perigee 07-12-1049 FULL MOON 19 Neptune 4 deg. S. of Moon 07-13-03 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 07-15 Mercury aphelion 07-17-04 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 05 Neptune opposition (mag. 7.9) 07-19-1110 3rd QUARTER MOON 07-20 Mercury perihelion 07-21-18 Uranus opposition (5.6) 07-23-20 Moon at apogee 07-24 10 Hygeia opposition (mag. 9.3) 07-25 704 Interamnia opposition (mag. 10.0) 07-26 88 Thisbe opposition (mag. 9.8) 07-27-1513 NEW MOON-Lunation 898 begins Delta Aqr. meteors peak (35/hr) 07-28-02 Mercury sup. conjunction 07-30 Mercury greatest lat. N. 08-01-15 Mars 2 deg. N. of Moon Alpha Cap. meteor shower peak 08-02-22 Jupiter stationary 08-04-0316 1st QUARTER MOON 08-05-20 Jupiter 2 deg. S. of Moon 08-06 Iota Aqr. meteor shower peak 08-08-14 Moon at perigee 08-09-04 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 12 Uran 6 deg. S. of Moon 08-10-1815 FULL MOON 21 2nd Saturn ring plane crossing 08-11 Venus perihelion Perseid meteors (60/hr) 387 Aquitania opposition (mag. 9.6) 08-12-04 Pluto stationary 08-13-11 Saturn 5 deg. S. of Moon 08-15-06 3 Juno stationary 08-18-0304 3rd QUARTER MOON 08-20-12 Moon at apogee Kappa Cyg. meteor shower peak 08-21-00 Venus sup. conjunction Mars descending node 08-22 Mercury descending node 08-23-15 2 Pallas conjunction 08-26-01 4 Vesta conjunction 0431 NEW MOON-Lunation 899 begins 08-28-07 Mercury 1.8 deg. N. of Moon 08-30-04 Moon occults Mars (not in N.Amer.) 09-01 Venus greatest lat. N. 09-02-04 Jupiter 3 deg. S. of Moon 0903 1st QUARTER MOON 09-05-01 Moon at perigee 11 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 19 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 09-09-0337 FULL MOON 04 Mercury greatest Elong. E. (27 deg.) 17 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 09-14-15 Saturn opposition 09-15 Saturn closest (8.6039 A.U.) 09-16-2109 3rd QUARTER MOON 09-17-06 Moon at apogee 09-18 18 Melponene opposition (mag. 7.8) 09-20-07 Jupiter 5 deg. N. of Antares 09-22-06 Mercury stationary Mercury greatest lat. S. 09-23-1213 Autumnal Equinox 09-24-1655 NEW MOON-Lunation 900 begins 09-25-23 Mercury 3 deg. S. of Moon 09-27-18 Mars 2 deg. S. of Moon 09-28-21 Mercury 5 deg. S. of Venus 09-29-15 Jupiter 3 deg. S. of Moon 09-30-04 Moon at perigee NOTE: At the end of October five planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune) will be in the early evening sky along withthe moon. Venus will be difficult to see in the twilight though. 10-01-1436 1st QUARTER MOON 10-02-17 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 10-03-00 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 10-04-09 Venus 3 deg. N. of Spica 10-05-00 Neptune stationary 01 Mercury inf. conjunction 10-06-15 Uranus stationary 22 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 10-08-1552 FULL MOON)Penum. Eclipse 10-09 1 Ceres conjunction 10-11 Mercury ascending node 10-13-09 Mercury stationary 10-15-02 Moon at apogee 10-16-1626 3rd QUARTER MOON Mercury perihelion 10-20-14 Mercury greatest Elong. W. (18 deg.) Orionid meteors (35/hr) 10-24-0436 NEW MOON-Lunation 901 begins* 10-25-11 Venus 1.9 deg. S. of Moon 10-26-11 Mars 4 deg. S. of Moon 21 Moon at perigee Mercury greatest lat. N. 10-27-06 Jupiter 4 deg. S. of Moon Venus descending node 6 Hebe opposition (mag. 7.8) 10-29-23 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 10-30-06 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 13 Mercury 4 deg. N. of Spica 2117 1st QUARTER MOON NOTE: At the end of November five planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune) will be clustered in the early evening sky with the moon. 11-01 Taurid meteor shower peak 11-02-12 Mars 4 deg. N. of Antares 11-03-02 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon 11-07-0720 FULL MOON 11-10-18 Venus 4 deg. N. of Antares 11-11-21 Moon at apogee 11-15-1140 3rd QUARTER MOON Leonid meteors (10-100/hr) 11-16-08 Mars 1.2 deg. S. of Jupiter 11-18 Mercury descending node 11-19-12 Venus 1.3 deg. S. of Jupiter 11-22-14 Sat. stationary 1543 NEW MOON-Lunation 902 begins-eclipse* 22 Venus 0.2 deg. S. of Mars 11-23-05 Mercury sup. conjunction 07 Pluto conjunction 23 Moon at perigee 11-24-01 Jupiter 4 deg. S. of Moon 08 Mars 5 deg. S. of Moon 09 Venus 6 deg. S. of Moon 11-25 13 Egeria opposition (mag. 10.0) 11-26-07 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon 14 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 11-29-0628 1st QUARTER MOON 7 Iris opposition (mag. 6.8) Mercury aphelion 11-30-07 Saturn 6 deg. S. of Moon NOTE:At the end of December, five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune) will all be in the early evening sky along with the moon! 12-01 Venus aphelion 12-06 16 Psyche opposition (mag. 9.5) 12-07-0127 FULL MOON 12-09-10 Moon at apogee 12-11 Geminid meteors (50/hr) 12-15-0531 3rd QUARTER MOON 12-16-17 Venus 2 deg. S. of Neptune 12-18-22 Jupiter conjunction 12-19 Mercury greatest lat. S. 12-20-13 Venus 1.3 deg. S. of Uranus 12-22-0222 NEW MOON-Lunation 903 begins 0817 Winter Solstice 10 Moon at perigee 29 Amphitrite opposition (mag. 8.9) Ursid meteor shower peak 12-23-07 Mercury 7 deg. S. of Moon 09 Mercury 1.1 deg. S. of Mars 18 Neptune 5 deg. S. of Moon Venus greatest lat. S. Mars 6 deg. S. of Moon 12-24-02 Uranus 6 deg. S. of Moon 10 Venus 7 deg. S. of Moon 12-27-15 Saturn 5 deg. S. of Moon 12-28-02 Mercury 2 deg. S. of Neptune 1906 1st QUARTER MOON * 04-15 Partial Lunar Eclipse visible from western N. Amer. 04-29 Annular eclipse of the Sun)not visible from N. Amer. 10-24 Total eclipse of the sun)not visible from N. Amer. --Boundary (ID na/zeYQpDWt9noaz7FNhNg)--