First Saturn for this season from Melbourne

[John K]

Hi guys,

Got up at 4:30am this morning to see Saturn blazing away at 66 degrees and captured my first image of this apparition and my first go at using WinJupos to process.

A series of L(IR685)RGB 90 second combos which potentially shows some small spots on the globe, some shaping in the Hexagonal as well as a tiny hint of Encke's gap under ok seeing conditions which was never really perfect.

Good to see Saturn again, and as always a striking object particularly with the shadow effect on the globe before opposition.

Not 100% happy with the colour balance, but this will improve as I capture more vid's during this apparition and some way to go towards my best shot from last year:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkazanas/14003487099/in/album-1162379/lightbox/

Clear skies.

John K.

[strongmanmike]

Really?? Gee, last years best shot must have been bloody good :eyepop:..can we see it again? Pleeeeease :prey:

Mike

[John K]

Thanks Mike!

p.s click on the link!

[rustigsmed]

great work as usual John,

I thought it was a bit smokey lastnight (autumn burnoffs) - may have affected the colour balance a smidge?

[John K]

Is that what it was? Yeah, indeed! Somewhat hazy in Brunswick as well.

[rustigsmed]

just on a side note John - I opted to hire an A7s (camera's up to my eyeballs) - I've got it at the moment for a minimum 3 months. reasonably priced actually and with the option to purchase. I'm keen to try it on some planetary.

[strongmanmike]

I did and thought that that was this mornings shot :stupid::lol:

I don't usually bother even looking at IIS posted images if there is a link in the post, so I just pressed the link thinking it was this mornings work.

Yes, that was a fine shot of Saturn...and this mornings is good too but you're right not as good as last years effort.

Mike

[ags_]

Very nice detail, tomorrow you may be able to get the dark spot which would be very useful for measurements. Lots of cloud here and high jet so not hopeful. Good lucky seeing

Phil

[traveller]

Nice work, definitely see the hex cloud in the polar region.

[Tony_]

Great image John! Nice and sharp.

Tony.

[ChrisM]

Impressive image John. I didn't realise that Saturn was visible yet.

Chris

[DavidU]

Great detailed shot. And from Melbourne !

[John K]

Russell - looking fwd to the results especially deep sky!



Thanks Phil



Thanks Bo



Thanks Tony



Thanks Chris - it sure is visible and blazing away overhead a 5am



Thanks David - amazing technology we have to be able to do this from a city of 3m people!

[Quark]

Off to an impressive start John, well done.

Regards
Trevor

[John K]

Thanks Trev.

I have now also done some more processing in just RGB which has improved the result.

Looks however that the small spots on the globe which the IR 685 filter can capture are lost but overall the result is more pleasing.

Clear skies,

John K.

[John K]

and another blending the best of both results RGB and L(IR)RGB.

[strongmanmike]

Well to my eye there ain't much between this and your best from last year...really only the colour and saturation :)

Seeing the outer ring edge poking over the globe looks so cool....will be gone before we know it.

Awesome

Mike

[batema]

Stunning image in my opinion.

[speach]

Wow!:):)