Telescope Reviews: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10

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Bird
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/07/03

Loc: Murrumbateman, Australia

Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10
#4240777 - 12/10/10 04:01 PM Attachment (310 downloads)

Hi all, my first Saturn image for this season, and I was lucky to catch
the new storm. I've attached images in visible (RGB) , IR (742nm+) and
CH4 (890nm). The seeing was poor for all these images, and Saturn was
quite low in the sky, but the storm is so bright that it's easily
visible. It was clear even in the live video that the storm was brighter
than both the planet and rings. Surely this must be one of the brightest
and largest storms in the last few seasons?

Interestingly the CH4 (methane) image doesn't show the storm at all. I'm
not sure if this is simply because CH4 is not useful on Saturn (maybe
these storms are too low in the atmosphere to get any return?).

The IR image shows a hint of structure in the outline of the storm,
there seems to be an extension developing to the southeast.

North is up in all these images.

cheers, Bird

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Bird
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/07/03

Loc: Murrumbateman, Australia

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4240778 - 12/10/10 04:02 PM Attachment (141 downloads)

..image #2

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Bird
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/07/03

Loc: Murrumbateman, Australia

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4240785 - 12/10/10 04:02 PM Attachment (145 downloads)

..image #3

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PiotrM
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: Poland

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4240830 - 12/10/10 04:20 PM

On the CH4 image does the storm doesn't make brighter dot on the edge of the darker band? And it's underexposed probably. Overall nice Saturns. Are they from the 16" ?

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MvZ
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 04/03/07

Loc: The Netherlands

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: PiotrM]
#4240850 - 12/10/10 04:27 PM

Awesome shot Bird, that storm is really impressive!

The forecast for next week finally seems to be a bit better, and when I get a chance I will definately try to catch Saturn with this storm!

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Freddy WILLEMS
Postmaster

Reged: 11/13/05

Loc: Hawaii, Honolulu

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: MvZ]
#4240858 - 12/10/10 04:32 PM

Excellent Anthony ! Wish I had clear skies.
Nice Saturn.

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Asimov
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/11/10

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Freddy WILLEMS]
#4240958 - 12/10/10 05:30 PM

Long time, no see Anthony.

That storm is very bright. I only saw Saturn for the first time this morning naked eye, peaking over the top of the neighbours trees. Another couple of weeks for me.

Nice work.

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Bird
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/07/03

Loc: Murrumbateman, Australia

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Asimov]
#4240970 - 12/10/10 05:39 PM

Thanks guys, Piotr yes this is with the 16" f/4 Royce mirror, the extra brightness really helps on Saturn! The CH4 images were taken with the camera in 2x2 binned mode and 0.5 second exposures for 2 minutes so it's not really underexposed, it's just that there is so little signal from the planet. I can see the small bright-ish mark you're referring to, but it's honestly not much different to the other noise in the image so I wouldn't bet on it.

cheers, Bird

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Kokatha man
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/13/09

Loc: "cooker-ta man" downunda...

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4241002 - 12/10/10 05:59 PM

That storm is such a standout on both your ir and rgb images Anthony!

Sure makes me want to get out there and image The Ringed One myself, but alas the weather has been so very poor here now for literally ages....!

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PiotrM
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: Poland

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4241046 - 12/10/10 06:27 PM

Quote:

The CH4 images were taken with the camera in 2x2 binned mode and 0.5 second exposures for 2 minutes so it's not really underexposed, it's just that there is so little signal from the planet.

Thats the problem of methane. It's always so dark. EMCCD could be the solution for this I guess - like the one used at Pic Du Midi, but the rings would still glow like hellish snow

. But in general - no storm in CH4 for some reason.

As for my they say 2 days of super snow, and then clear (?) but utterly freezing weather. Will be like last winter - imaging at -20C

or lower. But at least C11 arrived

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David Rivas
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/29/04

Loc: Lima, Peru

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: PiotrM]
#4241453 - 12/10/10 10:24 PM

Great capture Anthony!!!
Hey, You're always out there when something happens;o)
I will give it a try from Nasca!!!!
Best regards,
David

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mitovka
sage

Reged: 06/08/10

Loc: Slovakia, CE

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: David Rivas]
#4242365 - 12/11/10 12:10 PM

Anthony,

how it is possible you are still there something is going on?

Congrats!

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Bird
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/07/03

Loc: Murrumbateman, Australia

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: mitovka]
#4242823 - 12/11/10 05:16 PM

Thanks guys, this was a complete fluke - I didn't know where the storm was on the morning that I recorded this, but I could see it straight away on the screen. Saturn is only visible for about 30 minutes in the morning before sunrise, so there is a very small window to catch this outbreak. With the rotation time of 10h39m it will be Wednesday morning before I can see it again...

cheers, Bird

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Kecktastic
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/16/10

Loc: Broken Hill NSW Australia

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4245370 - 12/13/10 01:06 AM

Excellent work Bird and such a very bright storm. The 16" along with the increased sensitivity of the Flea will help a lot this Saturn season. Have been away this last week with the family, what a surprise to come back to see a bright new storm on my favorite planet, a great Christmas present indeed.

Regards
Trevor

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Bird
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/07/03

Loc: Murrumbateman, Australia

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Kecktastic]
#4245530 - 12/13/10 05:15 AM

Yes Trev, Saturn season has started early this year :-) Not a minute too soon with Jupiter disappearing into the west...

Bird

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Foehammer
professor emeritus

Reged: 06/29/06

Loc: Cyprus

Re: Saturn + bright storm, Dec 10 new

[Re: Bird]
#4245692 - 12/13/10 08:54 AM

Congrats on the storm Anthony aswell as on the beautiful images! Hoping to catch it too soon!

Wishing you good weather & seeing!

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