Saturn and How to Observe It

I received my ?rst telescope, a 60 mm (2. 4 in) Unitron refractor, as a surprise Christmas gift from my father when I was 10 years old,and over the next several years, I spent countless hours exploring the heavens, seeking out virtually every celestial object I could ?nd with this small aperture. I consider myself quite for- nate to have been blessed with a dark,unobstructed observing site for most of my childhood,unlike many of my astronomical friends who were always trying to get to a remote location away from city lights to do worthwhile deep-sky observing. I only had to carry my telescope and star charts just a few feet away into my backyard. By the time I entered high school,the night sky had become a delightfully fam- iar place. I had tracked down virtually all of the galaxies,nebulae,and star clusters within reach of my little instrument,and I split most of the double stars that were theoretically possible with its exquisite optics. Eventually,I earned suf?cient funds working part-time jobs (and saving school lunch money) to purchase a premium 10. 2 cm (4. 0 in) refractor, another Unitron that I quickly put through its paces, once again surveying my favorite deep-sky objects. Despite the fact that I could see all of them much better with increased aperture,I soon recognized how virtually changeless they were, so I started expanding my observational pursuits.

From the reviews:

"Julious L. Benton … is probably one of the most experienced and dedicated visual observer of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ … . His book is not only a very well researched compendium where almost all the current information … on Saturn and his satellites can be found but also a rich source of observational advice. What usually has to be searched in several books is given here … . In summary, this richly illustrated book is a goldmine of information … ." (Dr. Claudio Abaecherli, Astroinfo - online, December, 2006)

"Benton, a seasoned observer of Saturn – and yes, it shows in this book – walks the reader through a bang-up-to-date account of the Solar System’s second largest world. … this text is superbly illustrated with high quality colour and black and white pictures. That makes it an absolute ‘must have’ for the Saturn enthusiast and I wholeheartedly agree." (Nell English, Astronomy Now, 2006)

"Julius Benton has directed the ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers) Saturn Section since 1971, and his enthusiasm for observing the ringed planet is evident upon every page. This book begins with 46 pages of background detail about Saturn, and 38 pages of useful telescope data. … it will serve as a solid background for planetary work in general. … This book will be of most value to the new planet-watcher." (Richard McKim, The Observatory, Vol. 126 (1194), 2006)

"Saturn and how to observe it would seem long overdue, and with the Cassini mission to explore the Saturn system well underway, also most timely. … Saturn and how to observe it is neatly split into several chapters, each dealing with a specific aspect of Saturn. … The reader is then given generally sound advice on choice of telescopes. … Benton’s contribution must be welcomed … ." (David Graham, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 116 (3), 2006)

In addition to his professional research that has appeared in various technical journals, for over twenty-five years Julius has written extensively on the subjects of lunar and planetary astronomy. He has also mad considerable contributions to the existing literature on methods and techniques for making visual observations of the Moon and planets with various astronomical instruments and accessories. For many years his articles have appeared in Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Star and Sky, and elsewhere. He has also published comprehensive A.L.P.O. observing manuals on Saturn, Venus, and the Moon so that enthusiasts all over the world could plan and execute useful research programs. Julius has frequently been a guest speaker at local and national astronomical gatherings and his efforts as a liaison between amateur and professional planetary scientists has helped improve the significance of A.L.P.O. observational work.