Saturn Dec28UT

[Shiraz (Ray)]

It's getting higher now and the seeing was good in parts with a strong onshore wind and 200hPa winds running below 30kts at last. It was interesting to watch the small clouds scudding across - they were associated with pockets of appalling seeing and there were also similar clear pockets of turbulence that did not contain a cloud, but which totally destroyed seeing for a few seconds as they passed. In between, there were patches of pretty good seeing for the altitude (32deg for the attached image)

The ADC enabled a high framerate broadband L image, which made all the difference - the LRGB is a lot better than the equivalent RGB. Also have some Jupiter imagery from the previous night, but will not get time to process that for a day or two. Made time to process my first useful Saturn data for this apparition though.

Now I have to remember how to process this stuff - probably overdid it a bit on this one and hurt the crepe ring in the process, but it brought out some feature changes since the planet was last visible. The storm remnant band extends further pole-ward and the polar dark region looks smaller. And of course the rings are much more open now. It is great to be able to image this fascinating planet again. Thanks for looking. Regards Ray

[vaztr (Andrew)]

Ray,

That is simply stunning

VAZ

[grantch (Grant)]

Nice shot!

[Star Catcher (Ted Dobosz)]

Very nice image Ray, great disk contrast.

Ted

[Saturn%5 (Graeme)]

Great shot Ray

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Brilliant, Ray!

[von Tom (Tom)]

Very nice Ray.

[Shiraz (Ray)]

Originally Posted by vaztr

Ray,

That is simply stunning

VAZ

thank you Andrew

Originally Posted by grantch

Nice shot!

thanks Grant

Originally Posted by Star Catcher

Very nice image Ray, great disk contrast.

Ted

thanks Ted

Originally Posted by Saturn%5

Great shot Ray

thanks Graeme

Originally Posted by Larryp

Brilliant, Ray!

very generous - thanks Laurie

Originally Posted by von Tom

Very nice Ray.

Hi Tom - thanks

[Paul Haese]

Nice image for the elevation Ray. Later near opposition we will be getting far better images but at this stage that is quite nice. Time to get out of solar mode and into planetary mode I think.

[TheAstroChannel (Sean)]

Wow, that would be one of the best images of Saturn I've seen!

[Quark (Trevor)]

Thats a ripper Ray, really nice result.

Well done.
Regards
Trevor

[John Hothersall]

That is a fine result, it will be a great Saturn in 2013.

John.

[lepton3 (Ivan)]

Absolutely brilliant image Ray. I must say I personally like the sharp look, so I don't think you have overcooked this one.

-Ivan

[asimov (John)]

Not bad Ray, but nothing like it's going to be soon, as we all know. The weather gods have it in for me right now, as I'm ressurecting an old scope of mine, lol.

[Shiraz (Ray)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Nice image for the elevation Ray. Later near opposition we will be getting far better images but at this stage that is quite nice. Time to get out of solar mode and into planetary mode I think.

thanks Paul - yep, we need you back

Originally Posted by TheAstroChannel

Wow, that would be one of the best images of Saturn I've seen!

thanks Sean - very generous comment. you will see better when it rises a bit higher and the guys with the bigger scopes get onto it.

Originally Posted by Quark

Thats a ripper Ray, really nice result.

Well done.
Regards
Trevor

thanks Trevor - I was pleased to see some detail at last

Originally Posted by John Hothersall

That is a fine result, it will be a great Saturn in 2013.

John.

thanks John. I think we will get a good view of this planet later this year.

Originally Posted by lepton3

Absolutely brilliant image Ray. I must say I personally like the sharp look, so I don't think you have overcooked this one.

-Ivan

thanks very much Ivan - yes, I guess Saturn is inherently sharp

Originally Posted by asimov

Not bad Ray, but nothing like it's going to be soon, as we all know. The weather gods have it in for me right now, as I'm ressurecting an old scope of mine, lol.

Haah that explains it! looking forward to you guys up north getting some clear sky. enjoy the scope - looks like it will bring back many memories.

regards Ray