Saturn Feb 16th UT in good seeing.

[Quark]

Imaged Saturn this morning, my first RGB capture is the best data I have obtained for this apparition. In it the storm detail is very well resolved and there is also structure within the rings.

Following on there was some variability but still reasonable data. The structure in the tail of the storm is very well defined, there is an interesting quite prominent dark spot within the storm structure, especially in my final two RGB's. This dark spot also comes up well in my final two IR images.

Have attached 3 RGB's & 3 807nm IR images.
Thanks for looking

Regards
Trevor

[samilag]

Fantastic Trevor !
Very Interesting this spot's evolution inside the storm behaviours , these high quality pictures can let to follow this spectacular saturn's events

Thank you to share
Giuseppe

[von Tom]

Outstanding views of the storm with great detail - thanks Trevor.

Tom

[Quark]

Hi All,

Sorry about getting behind with this data set. I have now finished 2 very hi res animations from this data in RGB and 807nm IR. Both animations define very well the dark spot within the storm structure that I have previously mentioned.

Have attached links to the animations on my website.

http://trevsastronomy.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=117362478 (http://trevsastronomy.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=117362478)
http://trevsastronomy.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=117362477 (http://trevsastronomy.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=117362477)

Have also added a 120% resize of the best RGB.

Thanks for looking.
Regards
Trevor

[iceman]

Nice work Trevor, some lovely data there. Well done!

[John Hothersall]

That is such an interesting session you had Trevor with the dark spot which I got last night and wondered what it was on the red channel and IR as it came around.

John.

[[1ponders]]

Nicely done Trev. A new solar system structure to be named. Quarks Great Blue Spot. Will it become as famous and hang around as long as Jupiter's? ;)

[Derek Klepp]

Great shots Trevor especially like the third one colour version with the spot even though it is more pronounced in the next image the colour just adds that extra touch.Definitely keeps me looking in on Saturn each Obs session.These pics help its amazing how much more detail you see when you know what to look for.
Derek

[Quark]

Thanks very much Giueseppe, this storm is amazing, it continues to evolve and still shows no sign of diminishing at all.



Thanks very much Tom, Saturn sure is putting on a show, what a great time to be a planetary imager.



Thanks very much Mike.



Thanks John, this does seem to be a new development and very interesting that it is so well defined at visible and IR wavelengths.



Thanks Paul, still coming to terms with Saturn having a belt, even if it is likely to be rather temporary. I suppose when all is said and done, every atomic nuclei on Saturn is made up of Quarks:rofl:

[[1ponders]]

:rofl: Very good Trevor :rofl: :thumbsup:

[Quark]

Thanks very much Derek, this really is such a significant event, I suspect easily taking the title of being the largest, brightest and most active electrical storm ever recorded on any planet in the Solar System. We are so lucky to be seeing this, it could be a ounce in a life time event and what makes it even better is that it can be observed at the eyepiece of a telescope.

[Matt Wastell]

Superb images and animation!

[Troy]

Great set Trevor well done :D