2022-05-01, 08:28 PM
Here is some good news... for me and Phil! Dennis mentioned the July 17/18 event but I had bad positions for Iapetus back then. After those getting replotted, I now have the ephem and timing for Iapetus as well as a bonus transit by Mimas.
Iapetus ingress begins at 18:56 July 17 while Saturn is -39° altitude. All times are CDT. Saturn rises for me 3 hours later with Iapetus ~30% into the transit. The transit appears to end at ~04:36 with Saturn 41° up in the SSW.
Mimas ingress begins at 23:56 with Saturn up 23° and ends with Saturn up 35° at 01:06 on the 18th. That's the bonus if I can spot these sats transit.
Generally we get good weather and astronomical seeing that time of year. I have no idea what it will take to visually spot these moons of Saturn as I've no experience as a Saturn watcher. But I'm guessing a good 7" refractor. It will be interesting to start an observing program now.
Iapetus ingress begins at 18:56 July 17 while Saturn is -39° altitude. All times are CDT. Saturn rises for me 3 hours later with Iapetus ~30% into the transit. The transit appears to end at ~04:36 with Saturn 41° up in the SSW.
Mimas ingress begins at 23:56 with Saturn up 23° and ends with Saturn up 35° at 01:06 on the 18th. That's the bonus if I can spot these sats transit.
Generally we get good weather and astronomical seeing that time of year. I have no idea what it will take to visually spot these moons of Saturn as I've no experience as a Saturn watcher. But I'm guessing a good 7" refractor. It will be interesting to start an observing program now.