The brightening of Saturns rings at opposition (Seeliger effect). The photo also shows the changing view on to the rings plane with closing rings. 8-in Newton, DMK21AU04.AS, Astronomik RGB filters.
Saturn taken on March 16th with optimum conditions days before opposition. Two moons are on the fov one on each side of the disc (rings) and a noticeble brightness of the rings (Seeliger Effect).
This week Saturn is "at opposition." That's astronomy jargon for "Saturn and the sun are on opposite sides of the sky." Saturn rises at sunset and soars overhead at midnight, up all night. This arrangement has a striking effect on Saturn's rings. It makes them bright. Amateur astronomer Christopher Go of the Philippines photographed the phenomenon last night:
置顶卡
变色卡
千斤顶
显身卡
