During the Stargazing last week, I was able to see Saturn and its rings through Mr. Percival's telescope. It was one of the most interesting things I've ever seen. The rings of Saturn are so thin that when they face the Earth and Sun, they seem to disappear. This happens every 15 years, like so many things in astronomy, you have to know what's approaching or it might be a very long time if you ever get to see it again. This picture (a composite of 75), was captured by Cassini, its orbiting satellite. The rings almost look transparent. There's pictures help us determine the particle size of Saturn's rings, along with its dynamics of orbital motion. The rings are dark enough to even make out some of Saturn's clouds. As our technology expands, so does our knowledge.
I've never had the chance to look through a telescope, let alone see a planet through one! Stargazing is one of my top things to do this year, especially with Mr Percival.
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