Saturn

Saturn is an incredible object to view, and often one of the first objects beginners view through their telescopes. Most astronomers still remember their first viewing of this planet as it is breath taking.

Its rings and globe are well seen, though it is rather hard to make out individual details; a 3-inch will show Cassini's Division and the equatorial belts, other details will be difficult to observe.

The bright moon Titan is very easy to find, and Rhea and Iapetus (at western elongation) can also be picked up without any difficulty. Saturn's considerable axial tilt means that the satellites do not appear, as Jupiter's do, strung out in an orderly line - except when we pass through the plane of its equator. When this happens it is interesting to watch the edge-on rings temporarily disappear from view in a small telescope.