IAU Set to Vote on Reopening Saturn's Rings
Reports indicate the International Astronomical Union (IAU) will vote in favor of reopening Saturn's rings at its XXVII General Assembly in early August. According to spokesman George Edward Bulwer-Lytton, “Saturn now looks like a tuber with a stick through it - reopening the rings will make it look like a planet with rings around it!” A news release from the IAU says “Putting things right with Saturn's rings is our number one priority, a done deal, and the vote is just a formality. Saturn is supposed to be the showpiece of the night sky, and we can not condone a view other than one with the rings tilted to their maximum and appearing most glorious!”
The idea for the IAU effort to reopen Saturn's rings apparently came from Canadian amateur astronomer Joseph O'Neil, of London, Ontario. O'Neil has found the views of Saturn and its nearly edge-on rings “disappointing,” and a hindrance to his efforts to get young people interested in astronomy. His daughter, Siobhan, has lost her fondness for observing Saturn. A survey of astronomy clubs in Canada and the United States has revealed a high level of dissatisfaction with recent views of Saturn by the public. Saturn usually evokes cries of delight, but it now produces only puzzlement and disappointment. One third grader was reported loudly exclaiming, “If that's Saturn, your telescope is broken.” No longer do amateurs hear guests claiming “That's a picture!”
Rumors that the rings of Saturn may be tipped only enough to allow observation from lower latitudes and not northern locations has angered members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). Mr. O'Neil, a member of RASC and whose ancestors survived the burning of York (Toronto) during the War of 1812, was quoted as saying "Ever since we won that war there's been a backhanded movement by our American cousins to get even with us. Look at all those telescopes shipped into Canada from southern California. Every one has to be stripped down and the grease replaced, otherwise the mounts and focusers freeze up solid in winter. Now that we are on to them, the next logical step is make sure we cannot see the same thing in a telescope from Windsor, ON, that can be seen from Seattle, WA." O'Neil added that his view of Saturn's rings from the Southern Cross Astronomical Society's recent Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys was far superior to his view from November's Tuktoyaktuk Real Winter Star Party, held forty-five degrees further north. (O'Neil is one of the founders of the Tuk event.)
A minority of dissenting planetary scientists, enjoying a better view of Saturn's moons and unobstructed disk, suggest the Saturn vote is politically motivated, and is designed to divert attention from the continued turmoil over the IAU's demotion of Pluto to “Dwarf Planet.” That decision has been widely criticized, and recently lead to false reports that the IAU had voted to demote February to “Dwarf Month.” The Illinois senate also passed a resolution restoring Pluto to its planetary status as it passed through the sky over the state. There have been suggestions that its planetary status was purchased by several large “donations,” and Pluto's status elsewhere is unaffected.
One member of the IAU, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested the IAU has been too slow to move on the Saturn problem. She said faster action would have allowed citizen participants in IYA 2009 to see Saturn in its full glory, and not sadly diminished by the nearly edge-on rings. “To get people interested in astronomy, we need Saturn at its best! The amateur astronomers providing views of Saturn shouldn't have to apologize for its poor showing. The blame for this situation rests solely with the IAU.”
Although the IAU is poised to rectify this oversight, the vote will not come until early August - just when the period for serious telescopic observation of Saturn ends. Saturn will not appear far enough away from the Sun for good viewing against a dark sky again until November, and then it will be less conveniently placed in the early morning sky.
The idea for the IAU effort to reopen Saturn's rings apparently came from Canadian amateur astronomer Joseph O'Neil, of London, Ontario. O'Neil has found the views of Saturn and its nearly edge-on rings “disappointing,” and a hindrance to his efforts to get young people interested in astronomy. His daughter, Siobhan, has lost her fondness for observing Saturn. A survey of astronomy clubs in Canada and the United States has revealed a high level of dissatisfaction with recent views of Saturn by the public. Saturn usually evokes cries of delight, but it now produces only puzzlement and disappointment. One third grader was reported loudly exclaiming, “If that's Saturn, your telescope is broken.” No longer do amateurs hear guests claiming “That's a picture!”
Rumors that the rings of Saturn may be tipped only enough to allow observation from lower latitudes and not northern locations has angered members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). Mr. O'Neil, a member of RASC and whose ancestors survived the burning of York (Toronto) during the War of 1812, was quoted as saying "Ever since we won that war there's been a backhanded movement by our American cousins to get even with us. Look at all those telescopes shipped into Canada from southern California. Every one has to be stripped down and the grease replaced, otherwise the mounts and focusers freeze up solid in winter. Now that we are on to them, the next logical step is make sure we cannot see the same thing in a telescope from Windsor, ON, that can be seen from Seattle, WA." O'Neil added that his view of Saturn's rings from the Southern Cross Astronomical Society's recent Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys was far superior to his view from November's Tuktoyaktuk Real Winter Star Party, held forty-five degrees further north. (O'Neil is one of the founders of the Tuk event.)
A minority of dissenting planetary scientists, enjoying a better view of Saturn's moons and unobstructed disk, suggest the Saturn vote is politically motivated, and is designed to divert attention from the continued turmoil over the IAU's demotion of Pluto to “Dwarf Planet.” That decision has been widely criticized, and recently lead to false reports that the IAU had voted to demote February to “Dwarf Month.” The Illinois senate also passed a resolution restoring Pluto to its planetary status as it passed through the sky over the state. There have been suggestions that its planetary status was purchased by several large “donations,” and Pluto's status elsewhere is unaffected.
One member of the IAU, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested the IAU has been too slow to move on the Saturn problem. She said faster action would have allowed citizen participants in IYA 2009 to see Saturn in its full glory, and not sadly diminished by the nearly edge-on rings. “To get people interested in astronomy, we need Saturn at its best! The amateur astronomers providing views of Saturn shouldn't have to apologize for its poor showing. The blame for this situation rests solely with the IAU.”
Although the IAU is poised to rectify this oversight, the vote will not come until early August - just when the period for serious telescopic observation of Saturn ends. Saturn will not appear far enough away from the Sun for good viewing against a dark sky again until November, and then it will be less conveniently placed in the early morning sky.
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