SATURN'S V-FILTER BRIGHTNESS: A 15-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

Authors

Richard W. Schmude Jr., Gordon State College, Barnesville, GA 30204Follow
Qasim Ahmed*, Gordon State College, Barnesville, GA 30204Follow

Abstract

One of us (Richard Schmude, Jr.) has measured the V-filter brightness of Saturn since 1991. In 2010, two important Saturn Brightness studies were published in Icarus and at least one of these is undoubtedly the bases for the current JPL Horizons Ephemeris model for Saturn's V-filter brightness. We have comparied 112 V-filter brightness measurements of the Saturn system made between 2010 and late 2025. These measurements are compared to predicted brightness values of Saturn and Rings for 2010-2025 based on the current JPL Horizons Ephemeris model. We conclude that the overall mean measured brightness of Saturn + rings is 0.029 magnitudes fainter than what is predicted in the JPL Horizons Ephemeris during 2010-2025. The standard deviation for these measurements is 0.032 magnitudes. This is evidence that Saturn underwent global energy changes between 2010 and 2025. This is consistent with recent study that was published in Nature Communications.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Gordon State College for their support.

Recommended Citation

Schmude, Richard W. Jr. and Ahmed*, Qasim (2026) "SATURN'S V-FILTER BRIGHTNESS: A 15-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 84, No. 1, Article 115.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol84/iss1/115