Saturn in superb seeing

[Paul Haese]

Finally got on to some really good seeing. It has been a long time between drinks. This image was taken earlier in the evening and I am sure there is better data further along.

Pretty happy with the level of detail too given that Saturn was only 45 degrees up at the time.

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/Saturn29March20111238UT.html)for image.

[desler]

Wow!, seeing really is king! Love it.


Darren

[ballaratdragons]

Stunning result Paul!

Well done.
Colours look very pleasing :)

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys, nice to have everything come together during the apparition.

[Paul Haese]

If you thought that was good, then take a gander at this image. Man I am really happy now. Seeing must have been right up there to get this sort of data.

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/Saturn29March20111357UT.html)for image.

Feel free to comment.

[John Hothersall]

That second one is just amazing with the dust details separating out and fine banding. A larger looking Saturn than on the 28th is working well with this seeing you have.

John.

[iceman]

The second one is superb, Paul. A cracking image. The crepe ring is handled much better in this one too.

Nicely done.

[SkyViking]

The second image is stunning, and you even captured the Encke Gap. It's clearly visible on both sides. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.

[kinetic]

Didn't I tell you the seeing was good:)
That is absolutely stunning Paul. Wow...

My boy and I were up at 10pm using the 12" and 8" visually on
Saturn and I think the views were some of my all time best
in 30 years, even many years under Broken Hill skies.

I have wanted to show my son how good it can get and last
night was no exception.
I only wish I had the webcam set up to get something.
Seeliger effect (sp?) was very obvious visually.

Cracker image Paul:thumbsup:

Steve

[paulF]

That is some stunning details there Paul!!!! Beautiful, going to my favorites folder!!!:thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys, just awoke and I am still too excited from the night to sleep.

Processing is one thing but the ultimate decider is seeing, such is the fickle nature of things. :)

Steve, I reckon the seeing last night was infinitely better than the night before. This was something else at 1230pm. It could have still been better as the blue channel was very still but it had lots of going in an out of focus. Visually though this would have looked amazing at around 430x. I never got to see it through the eyepiece at its best, but I am sure glad I got to capture it at the peak.

[Shiraz]

Wow Paul, that was certainly worth the wait. Spectacular imagery. No wonder you can't sleep. Regards Ray

[jakob]

A truly beautiful image! Congrats.
Thanks for sharing.:eyepop::eyepop::eyepop:

[Quark]

A most excellent image Paul, simply beautiful. The seeing for this must have been great and you have used it superbly.

Doesn't it lift the spirit when data such as this is streaming in, the Flea is working well for you.

Extremely well done.
Regards
Trevor

[von Tom]

Well done Paul. Very fine image, done with the skill to make the most of the conditions!

Tom

[Paul Haese]

Yeah its does. When the drought was happening I was getting seeing like this on a regular basis and thought nothing of it whatsoever (it had been nearly 10 years of drought and I have only been imaging at Hi resolution since 2004-5. From the time of the drought breaking (18 months or so) the seeing had dried up with few nights of stability. It was becoming a little depressing.

Last night I was very excited watching the live feed, muttering under my breath for fear of waking my neighbours and my wife. It had been so long since observing exceptional seeing I could hardly believe my eyes. I had become desensitised to observing average seeing and thinking it was good when in fact it was simply average. Being a seasoned campaigner of this caper I knew that the seeing would return but I had in recent times begun to wonder when.

This was like seeing my first lot of good seeing all over again. A wonderful feeling as you well know. It is times like this that make planetary imaging fascinating and a real joy.

[Paul Haese]

Here is one from halfway inbetween the two images. I did a super resample just for effect. I will have to work on the data a little get it just right for future display.

[Matt Wastell]

Great stuff Paul - stunning images all of them!

[spearo]

lovely!
look at all the colors!
frank

[Frewi808]

Love that banding close to the ring plane.
Freddy

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys appreciate the thoughts.

I was not really all that happy with the processing so I have gone back over the images and started from scratch to get a better colour balance. I am planning to do a large animation so I wanted all the colours to be consistent and I wanted to remove the red cast in one image and the blue green cast in the other. Much happier now with how the images look.

I think I like these better. Any comments?

[Kal]

Beautiful images Paul. I don't recall seeing too many Saturn animations so I look forward to your final presentation!

[Jen]

hubba hubba :thumbsup: nice one Paul i now have a new desktop piccy :lol: thanks keep em coming :thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

More than happy to help you out Jen. At least now you know what the scope was that got the image.

[Jen]

:lol: yeah i feel special i have touched that scope :rofl:

[Paul Haese]

LOL, that is a worry. :)