Saturn, Jan 10 in good seeing

[bird]

This morning gave some very good seeing for the hour and a half preceding dawn. I have more to process, but here are the results so far.

At the link below you'll find:

- A colour image comprising 3 x 3 minute runs in R,G,B
- Two red-channel images taken approx 10 minutes apart. One of these is the R channel from the colour image.
- An animated GIF of these two red-channel images showing many cloud features by comparison.

I hope to get more seeing like this!

Link:
http://www.acquerra.com.au/astro/gallery/saturn/20090110/

[matt]

Nice images, Anthony.

Do you know what's causing the limb artifact at right of the mono (R) images? I'm guessing it's an exposure issue due to Saturn being a little dimmer this apparition.

[bird]

Matt, I'm pushing the camera right to the limits, and this artifact is one of the results of not enough bits in the raw data. It's a variation on the "onion ring" problem.

The tradeoff is more resolution of cloud detail so I'm too bothered by it.

regards, Bird

[Lester]

I like the colour image Anthony fantastic.

Hope you can get some more good seeing soon.

[Quark]

Hi Bird,

Great images, love the job you have done with the colour image.

Sure is a lot happening, so many features.
The feature in dark band Nth of the lat 35 region may be one of these long lived persistent spots that Marc is on about.

Regards
Trevor

[iceman]

Lovely work Anthony. Beautiful images. The animation is tops.

[bird]

Update: An extra animation has been added showing a large storm in the southern hemisphere rotating into view which has a distinct dark centre and lighter edge.

Check out the link above, look for the animation starting at 1738.

regards, Bird

[Lester]

Looks like a miniature GRS. Fantastic.

[bird]

...and finally here's the pretty image, no real science value but it sure looks nice :-)

A composite of about 45 minutes worth of data from 4.45am to 5.30am local time.

About 6000 frames in each channel stacked out of about 12000 available.

regards, Bird

[AlexN]

Now thats what I call image scale! :) that last pic is massive!

Very nice all round Bird.

[Quark]

Lovely image, great work Bird.
Worth the effort, a very pleasing result.

It may well be of little scientific value but I hope you continue to spoil us with even more such stunning images. Its stuff like this that stimulates the community at large, especially in this year of astronomy.

Who knows, seeing images like this, produced by an amateur may stimulate
others to take the step and become involved.

Regards
Trevor

[bird]

Thanks Trevor, fingers crossed for some more good seeing... it was a last minute decision to set up last night, after rain yesterday I'd written it off but then went outside at about 10pm and found a nice clear sky.

There may be some equipment upgrades coming for Lexx (the scope) in the next few months that'll boost its firepower to the next level - I'm looking at testing a new camera from Point Grey that looks promising, and also maybe going to a larger mirror (not certain about that yet).

Should be lots of fun :-)

cheers, Bird

[Deeno]

Wow!!!!
Thats one big Saturn.
Always look forward to your planetry images