all sorts of phenomena are visible. Sometimes you can see the shadows of the rings on Saturn's cloud tops. Other times, you can see the shadow of the planet on the rings. At times, the rings are edge on, and you can't see them at all! Depending on your scope's size, the rings have structure, gaps and texture. It takes a really big scope to see details on the clouds, Saturn is not as active and turbulent as Jupiter, and it is much further away, and colder.

Saturn is a long way off, and it takes it a long time to go around its orbit. If its too far south to be visible from your location, it may take years before it creeps far enough North to be visible. Like all the planets, it stays in the equatorial region, between 23 degrees north or south of the equator.

N Idaho (the Canadian border) is at Latitude 49 North, so Saturn at its highest culmination will be approx 64 degrees above the S horizon. At its lowest (where it is now) it will be at most 18 degrees above the S horizon. All the planets hang out in the ecliptic plane, but Saturn moves so slowly it takes a while to get N enough for you to see it.

But that visual appearance, even in the smallest scope, is a stunner. That icy, cold orb and those delicate rings, floating in that endless darkness is truly unforgettable. My first view of it was also in a 60mm refractor. I was about 12. Even knowing what to expect, I was totally unprepared for the experience, and I will never forget it.