Storms on Saturn in 1994

Two new storms were observed on Saturn in 1994. There is an article in the December 1994 issue of Sky & Telescope about these storms, one of which is near the south pole and the other is in the equatorial zone. Here are some central meridian transit times for the equatorial storm.

From:  James Lancashire
       British Astronomical Association
       Cambridge University Astronomical Society
       jalan@mail.ast.cam.ac.uk 
 
 
---------- 1994 October -----------    ---------- 1994 November ---------- 
 
Day   UT     Day   UT     Day   UT     Day   UT     Day   UT     Day   UT 
 
22  22:08    25  22:42    28  23:16    31  23:50     4   0:24     7   0:58
23   8:30    26   9:04    29   9:38     1  10:12     4  10:46     7  11:20
23  18:52    26  19:26    29  20:00     1  20:34     4  21:08     7  21:42
24   5:14    27   5:48    30   6:22     2   6:56     5   7:30     8   8:04
24  15:36    27  16:10    30  16:44     2  17:18     5  17:52     8  18:26
25   1:58    28   2:32    31   3:06     3   3:40     6   4:14     9   4:48
25  12:20    28  12:54    31  13:28     3  14:02     6  14:36     9  15:10
 

                  White spot in Saturn's equatorial zone
                  --------------------------------------
 
In response to IAU Circular No 6092, I report my observations at the
Observatories, Cambridge, UK, of a transit of a white spot in Saturn's
equatorial zone.
 
1994 October 13   300mm OG  25mm eyepiece  (x216)  seeing I/II (Antoniadi)
---------------
                Transit (UT)
preceding edge   2013 +- 4
centre           2026 +- 5
following edge   2038 +- 4
 
1994 October 22   300mm OG  25mm eyepiece  (x216)  seeing I/II (Antoniadi)
---------------
                Transit (UT)
preceding edge   2158 -5 (est)
centre           2208 +- 3
following edge   2222 +- 4
 
1994 October 23  200mm OG  18mm eyepiece  (x156)  seeing I/II (Antoniadi)
---------------
                Transit (UT)
centre           1855 +- 3
following edge   1912 +- 3
 
1994 October 25  300mm OG  25mm eyepiece  (x216)  seeing II/III (Antoniadi)
---------------                                   but transparency poor
                Transit (UT)
centre           2240 +- 4
following edge   2253 +- 3
 
The transit (of the centre) is as expected from a rotation of 10h22m for
the spot (as opposed to 10h14m of Saturn's equatorial zone (System I))
and is consistent with transits reported on IAUC 6092 and my own of
October 13 & 22.  The spot appeared slightly brighter than the brightest
part of the rings, with the rest of the equatorial zone slightly shaded
and the equatorial belts darker than usual.  The spot therefore seems to
be a long-lived phenomenon with no significant change over the past tens
of rotations.

Storms on Saturn in 1994

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