| Observer | Location | Telescope | Images/Drawings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukui, Hideto | (Shizuoka, Japan) | 35cm SCT. | 1 | image |
| Horikawa, Kuniaki | (Yokohama, Japan) | 16cm Refl. | 2 | drawings |
| Olivetti, Tiziano | (Thailand) | 28cm Refl. | 2 | images |
The first observation of this apparition was made by Fukui again on Jan. 16. Although only two major belt were barely seen in domestic images due to poorest condition in winter, we were able to see the general situation of a sector around II:250 deg. from Olivetti's image in Thailand (Jan. 18).
SEB was double, and two components were almost equally broad and dark. On SEBs, there were some dark spots diffusing into STrZ like dark columns. It is expected that STrD-1 in which the Circulating Current was observed in previous apparition is close to II:270 deg., but it is unknown which spot of the above it is. Dark segment of STB following BA was seen in preceding side of his image. Somewhat diffuse band followed, but it would be trace of thickened STBn which was observed in the last stage of previous apparition, because the latitude of the band was a little lower than STB. STBn latitude did not show any suspicious markings which indicated the activity of Circulating Current.
EZ was bright with prominent festoons. NEB was the only conspicuous belt in northern hemisphere, and NTB which had revived by NTBs outbreak last apparition was only seen as south edge of dusky area which spread toward NPR.
(2) Saturn
Saturn is retrograding in Leo, and the opposition in February is close at hand. This month, we received observations listed below.
| Observer | Location | Telescope | Images/Drawings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ikemura, Toshihiko | (Nagoya, Japan) | 38cm Refl. | 4 | images |
| Kumamori, Teruaki | (Osaka, Japan) | 20cm Refl. | 10 | images, 1 animation |
| Olivetti, Tiziano | (Thailand) | 28cm Refl. | 8 | images |
| Yunoki, Kenkichi | (Osaka, Japan) | 26cm Refl. | 3 | images |
A white spot appeared on n. edge of STB at about III:290 deg. It was bright outstanding in Kumamori's image on Jan. 9. Since Christopher Go's image taken early December showed a spot at the same longitude, single white spot might have survived more than a month.
A similar bright spot on STBn edge was also noted in Jan. 2006. This latitude may be one of the locations where white spots tend to appear.
(February 9, K. Horikawa)
(Translated on April 4)
[Fig.1] White spot on Saturn |
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