My previous topic, "2-Saturn Composite, Anticipating Future Edge-on Rings"
inspiration came from my curiosity about Saturn's upcoming rings edge
view, anticipated in March 2025. Because of Saturn's position behind the
sun at that time, however, we won't be able to view or capture images
of it then.
That article includes basic Saturn info and resources. The video "2-Saturn Composite Image, GIMP Revisit" shows numbered steps for creating the composite comparing Saturn images taken 9/2/2021 and 11/22/2023.
This time around, the topic is about having found a GIMP-editable
(.xcf) 3-Saturn composite with images from 2015 and 2018 as well as
2021, then adding the image from November. The video shows the
steps in using GIMP for the process. Main GIMP tools for setups and
usage are layers, measurement, grid, move, and draw. Saving and
exporting are must-do's for successful outcome.
We recently pic'd Saturn, then recalled another imaging session (from
about 26 months before. I wanted to compare images, then create a
composite. The 2-Saturn composite image shows Saturn on 9/2/2021 and
11/22/2023. The orientations differ, and the newer Saturn's set of rings
angle narrower than the rings of the earlier Saturn. During the image
creation process, I had became curious about when Saturn's rings might
"flatten", maybe disappear from view.
I thought about the steps I used in my process. Having used GIMP
recently, and PaintShopPro earlier, I decided to make a slide show of
the steps.
Some Saturn Resources
To acquaint myself with my orb target, I ran across a few basic resources. NASA's "Saturn: Facts" provides good overview. EarthHOW's "7 Planet Saturn Facts: Beyond its Signature Rings [Infographic]" includes more details and tantalizing images, especially the infograph. "How long does it take Saturn to orbit the Sun?"
states "approximately 29.46 Earth years, or 10,755.7 Earth days, to
complete one orbit around the Sun". This site provides a nice list of
q/a's. Saturn has an unusual feature besides its rings: NASA's "Saturn’s Strange Hexagon" explains "a bizarre six-sided hexagon feature encircling the entire north pole".
In 2025, Saturn’s rings will be invisible from Earth for
several months. ... Saturn’s rings are so thin that they seemingly
vanish when viewed edge-on. And as Earth and Saturn travel around the
sun on their respective orbital paths, our planet reaches this
particular vantage point like clockwork, roughly every 13 to 16 years.
... the rings will disappear from sight in March 2025.
The following image represents three Saturn images, the existing duo,
and a phantom representation for March 2025. The last image indicates
planet tilt and edge-on rings. FWIW, Saturn is not in the night sky
around that time frame, and the sun's angular alignment to Saturn WRT
Earth's position endangers eyesight.
My profession had been technical writer/editor. Through TheWriteJob clublet (blog at http://thewritejob.blogspot.com), I have been exploring my inner creative writing, which includes mostly language enlightenment, entertainment, and a-muse-meant. Over time, I have become more active with images and my YouTube channel.
