Expected triple conjunction of red ovals had started at last. Of the two ovals approaching RS at II:125.3 deg. (Jun. 30, Miyazaki), BA began to overtake RS from early June first. It was at II:125.8 deg. (Miyazaki) at the end of June, reaching due south of RS. On the other hand, the arrival of STrZ dark ring (LRS) to RS had been estimated to defer into July from its drift rate. But it accelerated and reached the f. end of RS bay on Jun. 27. At the same time, dark arch emerged on south edge of RS. LRS crept up along the arch and was at the f. end of RS on Jun. 30 (II:135.8 deg., Miyazaki). At the end of June, RS and BA remained unchanged, and LRS was still reddish and prominent, though it appeared smaller by fading its dark collar.

According to observation in early July, LRS seemed to pass through the narrow channel between RS and BA, being stretched out into a strip. We should keep watch whether it continues prograding in STrZ or be caught by RS.

The mid-SEB outbreak preceding RS formed disturbed region in the northern half of SEB. It was covered by white spots extending over 60 deg. long on the preceding side of source region (f. end) at II:60 deg. This region extended more, becoming narrow light band, the p. end of which was intruding into the north side of another mid-SEB outbreak at around II:250 deg. This outbreak region made light band over 100 deg. long, but it was not so disturbed as above-mentioned outbreak region. On SEBs edge, there were a lot of bluish spots and projections, and long dark streak was formed along SEBs between II:300 deg. and RS.

The disturbed region in southern EZ (SED) became conspicuous, when it passed through the north of RS. Irregular SEBn projected out into EZs between I:330 and 0 deg., though other longitudes showed only weak bluish filaments. After the passage of RS, SEBn rift was formed again, and long white streak connected it with SEBZ white cloud following RS.

Large dark oval in STZ was outstanding in curious aspect like 'eye' with bright core at II:178.0 deg. (Jun. 23, Einaga). Also, small but prominent dark spot appeared in south temperate region preceding RS at II:48.7 deg. (Jun. 15, Akutsu). Though there were few markings in this latitude usually, this apparition shows remarkable features. The other anticyclonic dark ring in STrZ was indistinct at II:193.4 deg. (Jun. 23, Einaga), because of weak redness and faint surrounding ring. In NEB, a prominent rifted region was formed. It emerged from small white spot which appeared in NEBs at about II:160 deg. early May, and developed into narrow band inclined in the direction of northwest from southeast being stretched out by strong wind shear, as it prograded at intermediate drift rate (-4 deg./day) typical of this latitude. This region prograded to about II:270 deg. late June.

(2) Saturn

Saturn was at west sky in evening. This month, we received observations listed below. Reported observations were very few due to poor condition of rainy season, though the solar conjunction comes in September.

Kazemoto captured clearly STB white spot in his image on Jun. 30, though it seems that it was no longer impossible to track the spot due to condition change for the worse. It must be the result of good seeing in Miyako Island and performance of 50cm telescope.

The spot was light for its size at III:340.8 deg., -41.5 deg. in latitude. According to its longitude, it would be the first spot which had revived in May. The other spot preceding it was not seen at all. This spot emerged in last December, and has already survived for more than half a year. It is surprisingly long-lived for Saturnian spot.

(July 9, K. Horikawa)

(Translated on December 22)

[Fig.1] Triple conjunction of reddish ovals

Arrowheads indicate LRS.

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