A very stormy Saturn - May 2nd

[Gladiator]

Hi all,

On May 2nd I could finally capture some storm on Saturn for the first time this year. As a compensation-bonus, I captured the actual nice pair where the following spot is seen as a 45 deg tilted 8 shape.
Such a double spot is also seen in an image captured 8 (yeah, another 8...) minutes later, so I can fairly state it's real although the odd shape.

The preceding spot is less concentrated and fading over the W-E direction.
The poor transparency caused by thin cirrus lowered somewhat the color contrast. Seeing was steadily fair.

http://www.lazzarotti-hires.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/saturn20080502_1929_lazz.jpg

Also, notice the Saturn bright disc seen through the Cassini division. On late March, the dark rings' shadow was seen:

http://www.lazzarotti-hires.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/saturn20080329_2248_lazz.jpg

Saturn won't cease to amaze me!

[edwardsdj]

Amazing Saturn image. You must be thrilled with the altitude you're experiencing there.

It's heading South now though. Can't wait to get a good crack at it in a few years :)

[Dietmar]

amazing images Paolo!
thanks for posting the direct links to the images (-:

[iceman]

Brilliant images, Paolo. Very smooth and beautiful colour!

Nice catch with the storms!

[Dennis]

Hi Paolo

Wow – these two images of Saturn are quite extraordinary. I am transfixed by the amount of detail you have managed to capture and reveal; the colours and tones on the planetary disc are exquisite and seeing the disc of Chronos through the rings is reminiscent of a spacecraft orbiter view.

The icing on the cake surely has to be the storms and cameo appearances of the moons! Or, could it be the clarity of the ring system, hmm, a tough choice! Top stuff.

Cheers

Dennis

[Gladiator]

Hi guys, Thank you all for your nice comments! Fortunately, Saturn is slow enough to move southward, so it's still high enough from here. Over the next 2 years both northern and southern observers could observe the edge-on ring for the very first time since the new modern age where subsecs resolution can be achieved with no problem. This is thrilling me indeed despite many aren't that amused with the ring closening! IMHO, the best from Saturn has yet to come!

[[1ponders]]

Wow!!!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful work Paolo. And I'd thought we'd seen the best of Saturn for this year. How wrong I was. :clap:

[John K]

Thanks for sharing Paolo.

These are indeed some of the best images of Saturn I have seen in recent times!

[Robert_T]

what can one say, but Stunning:eyepop:

Ring structure is amazing. And the storms. Well Done:thumbsup:

[Gladiator]

Robert, John and others,

Thank you again!
Although very late on Saturn season, I could grab it nicely at the end!
More ringed stuff is yet to come...

[leon]

I am totally amazed how you Planetry mob can get so close and personal to the Solar System, there certainly is some master pieces being produced, fantastic image.

Leon