Jupiter 29th January

[videoguy]

Hi all,

Hope those of you who attended had a great time at the star party. Wish I could have been there from all reports I've heard. Well done IIS for breaking new ground in star party events!

Although I was side tracked with music related comittments over the weekend, I did manage to get some imaging done on Sunday night. The seeing was ok and allowed a few nice views of the black eye galaxy among other objects I was able to image on the night. I've attached a picture of Saturn and Jupiter from the Sunday/Monday morning session taken with the 10".

It's a stack of about 50 to 70 images per colour channel - straight RGB stacked with good old regi and the usual contrast enhancement processing.
Although it's the less appealing hemisphere of Jupiter, quite a bit of equatorial activity can be seen taking place. Clearly (from other member images I've seen posted to date), there are a lot of white spots circulating along the belts and bordering zones at this point in the apparition. Should be an interesting apparition this year.

Clear Skies and damn these clouds...again

Steve

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Love that Saturn Steve. Great start to the Jupiter season too, but I think Saturn takes the prize for that morning.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Agreed. Saturn is superb!

[videoguy]

Thanks guys..I always find Saturn a difficult beast even with collimation on the job. Can never seem to get Encke's division passing neatly all the way around the rings but it's always a beautiful planet to image. I've really enjoyed returning to visual more than imaging of late. Sort of rekindling the old childhood fascination and testing the eyes.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Originally Posted by videoguy

I've really enjoyed returning to visual more than imaging of late. Sort of rekindling the old childhood fascination and testing the eyes.

I know what you mean Steve. I had a peek at Saturn through Ausastronomers 2X powermate and 10mm pentax on a 10" Dob at the IISAC. Gobsmacked! Sharp as a razor and fantastically clean colour. A joy and pleasure to behold.

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Hi Steve, two nice images there.

Bird

[iceman (Mike)]

Nicely done Steve, lots of detail on Jupiter and nice processing of Saturn - nice and smooth and very natural.

[Robert_T]

Beautiful Shots both Steve , the delicate crepe ring is really quite obvious on Saturn and as you say the equatorial band activity is really quite drammatic - I'd noticed the number of white spot storms too and wondered whetehr these were new as I hadn't noticed quite so much last year.


cheers,

[RB (Andrew)]

Great images Steve.
The colours are so natural especially on Saturn.

I love this tri-colour process.

Well done.

[davidpretorius]

ooooohh, you nearly got the cassini division all the way around!!!

well done, great images!