Star gazing : Saturn

*Originally appeared in readnshared.

We have been planning this visit for quite sometime now. But for one reason or another, visit was not possible until the last Friday. We took this opportunity of that free Friday evening and went to Singapore Science Center as planned. We were accompanied by my friend and colleague Sajid. Sajid, himself is an astronaut – well, at least to say astronaut in the making. He reads loads of Carl Sagan and discusses those things then and there with me. He owns a telescope too. He bought it from Malaysia and while entering Singapore, he was heavily interrogated by the customs. He had been noted and I think, his photo is already printed and waiting to be dispatched.

We – my wife Anusha and my baby Srinithi and our astronaut – took 143 from my home and reached Science center with in 10 minutes. I and our astronaut-in-make have never visited this Science Center. Our astronaut in make got excited as we saw that giant dinosaur standing in queue outside McDonalds.

I have never seen a planet and was pretty oblivious to Astronomy. Somehow I had a feeling that Astronomy is similar to Astrology and both them had no significance in common man’s life. But after our astronaut-in-make got a sudden interest in astronomy I had no choice but to follow him. You wouldn’t believe I even tried to read this Carl Sagan thing in Kinokuniya. I felt like a 7th grade student reading atomic physics, anyway in the end I didn’t buy that Cosmos book.

Inside the Science Center there is a restaurant. I forgot the name. But they serve buffet. I guess this is mainly for the people who come to the omni-theater. Lots of people were dining that made it look like a kopitiam. Suddenly I was in a doubt if I had come to the right place. I am supposed to go for Star gazing not food gazing. But the sign board said that I am in correct place.

The place for star gazing is a small back yard kind of garden where 2 or 3 telescopes were mounted. And people stood in queues in front of each telescope. It was very hot and humid and I felt like I was in sauna. I got my turn and saw through the telescope. I took a close look again and again. I had a doubt. There was a guy standing near every telescope to assist and guide you. I guess they were volunteers. I asked my doubt: Fine. I can see a bright white spot, alright. But where are the rings? Saturn certainly has rings, you know? He pardoned my ignorance and continued to explain what I saw. It was not a planet. It is a star named Sirius. And it is 8.7 light years from Earth. Well, I know what a light year is. I am not that stupid. I took a quick second look and asked him: Ok then, where is Saturn?

To see Saturn one must climb the steps and go to the observatory. Our astronaut-in-make has already gone there and was seriously discussing with a volunteer there. People doubted our astronaut-in-make as a volunteer and were asking guidance. Initially due to very less lighting I mistook our astronaut-in-make as a guide and asked him where and how to see Saturn. He told me to go in and continued to chat seriously with that volunteer.

At last with that huge telescope we saw the Saturn. I said wow. Really it was. I felt thrilled. This is the first time I am seeing a planet very closely. The image I saw was a small white ball with white rings. It was not colorful as we see it in National Geographic. It looked white as a ghost. Titan one of the moons of Saturn was also visible. I learnt from our astronaut-in-make that Saturn is fully made of gas and one cannot stand over it. Of course, you cannot stand on gas, can you?

Finally our stargazing session was over. Later I joined the conversation with the volunteer and our astronaut-in-make. My wife asked me whether we can see the Saturn even more closely. I know for sure that you will need an even bigger telescope. The volunteer told that when this star gazing center was built in Singapore before 20 years this was the biggest one. But now there are 2 or 3 telescopes which are bigger than this in Singapore. But mostly those close-look telescopes will be placed in islands like Bahama etc, because in those places light-noise will be very low.

He also added that Jupiter will be very near and it will be clearer than Saturn. But we can see the Jupiter only in August. If possible make a trip to Science Center and take your kids too with you. It will lot of fun. We are waiting for our baby to grow.

Some facts about Saturn: Given by our astronaut-in-make
1. If you manage to put Saturn in a bath tub filled with water, Saturn floats. It is less dense than water.
2. Saturn has the fastest wind. You want to know the speed? Not much just 1160 Km/h
3. Saturn is made up of 91% hydrogen.
4. Saturn’s ring is 72000 Km wide and just half a mile thick. (the fastest wind speed on eareth ever recorded was 231 mph)
5. Saturn’s ring is made of Ice, rocks and who knows what?
6. Saturns volume is 700 or so greater than the earth.
7. Saturn has more number of moons than any other Planet. 63 and still counting.
8. Saturn is the only planet which has a moon (Titan) that has a dense atmosphere like Earth.
9. More on your own.