| Observer | Location | Telescope | Images/Drawings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Einaga, Hideo | (Hyogo, Japan) | 25cm Refl. | 13 | images |
| Fukui, Hideto | (Shizuoka, Japan) | 25cm Refl. | 10 | images |
| Hayashi, Toshio | (Kyoto, Japan) | 35cm SCT | 2 | images |
| Horikawa, Kuniaki | (Yokohama, Japan) | 16cm Refl. | 3 | drawings |
| Ikemura, Toshihiko | (Nagoya, Japan) | 31cm Refl. | 1 | image |
| Kumamori, Teruaki | (Osaka, Japan) | 60cm Refl. | 6 | images |
| Mishina, Toshiroh | (Yokohama, Japan) | 20cm Refl. | 2 | images |
| Miyazaki, Isao | (Okinawa, Japan) | 40cm Refl. | 6 | images |
| Takimoto, Ikuo | (Kagawa, Japan) | 31cm Refl. | 9 | images |
| Yunoki, Kenkichi | (Osaka, Japan) | 20cm Refl. | 20 | images |
One more merger was expected on NEBn edge in September. WSZ approached rapidly preceding white spot this month. The distance of two spot, which was about 15 deg. late August, was 13 deg. on Sep. 2, and became only 8 deg. according to Fukui's image on Sep. 9, when p. end of WSZ and f. end of preceding spot were about to contact. And images on Sep. 14 by Einaga and Kumamori showed WSZ alone, but their images were taken under too poor condition to make sure whether the merger took place actually. According to ALPO-Japan web site, two spots contacted on Sep. 11, when preceding spot shifted southward and crept up WSZ, just like the previous merger in June. Because single white spot which must be WSZ was seen on Sep. 13, both spots seem to merge between Sep. 12 and 13, as expected. Afterward, WSZ could not be tracked due to poorer condition in second half of September.
EZs showed conspicuous darkening. Disturbed region again passed RS early September, when new rift formed in SEBn at about I:15 deg., and white cloud in SEB flew out into EZs to create white oval. Though similar rift had been formed in last encounter in July, its drift rate implies that the rift is not a revival of previous one but another portion of SEBn was broken to form it. EZs was much disturbed preceding the rift, where SEBn faded and the region from northern half of SEB to EB was filled up with irregular tiny spots and bluish fragments. Such disturbed sector extended to longitude less than II:300 deg., where SEB looked narrow to normal two third. Other sector of EZs was also dusky and yellowish.
RS was detached reddish oval though faint, since surrounding arch and dark streak had faded away. It was almost stationary at II:112.3 deg. (Fukui, Sep. 9). Activity of white spots in SEB was seen between RS and II:180 deg., indicating that mid-SEB outbreak was still alive. BA was at II:86.3 deg. (Einaga, Sep. 4). Redness of BA increased more, and it looked a reddish patch rather than white oval in images taken under poor condition.
(2) Saturn
Saturn passed solar conjunction on Aug. 7, and reappeared in morning east sky. Elongation from the sun exceeded 30 deg. in mid-September, but condition was still poor. This month, we have received observations listed below.
| Observer | Location | Telescope | Images/Drawings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Einaga, Hideo | (Hyogo, Japan) | 25cm Refl. | 1 | images |
| Takimoto, Ikuo | (Kagawa, Japan) | 31cm Refl. | 7 | images |
The ring tilt decreased still more during solar conjunction, and minor axis of the ring became two third of Saturn's body. This aspect was the most suitable for enjoying the ring.
On the surface of Saturn, EZ was light and reddish SEB was prominent. No spot was observed due to poor condition yet. We expect active Saturn in this apparition, too.
(October 12, K. Horikawa)
(Translated on Feburary 20)
[Fig.1] Merger of NEB white spots |
 |