Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.

Saturn Feb 1st, spots & polar storm

Started by Kecktastic , Feb 03 2013 01:12 AM

Next

This topic has been archived. This means that you cannot reply to this topic.

25 replies to this topic

#1 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:12 AM

Hi All,

Imaged Saturn Feb 1st in variable seeing, the best of it being quite reasonable. I noted the recent message circulated by John Rogers to our group regarding the hexagonal polar storm imaged quite nicely by Darryl. Through 2012 as the Nth pole became more visible this polar storm started to show up, particularly at 807nm IR although it was also visible in some R and RGB data. I am confident that a search through the PVOL data base would reveal many examples of it. I have never previously seen a polar map of it though, it has never really been a priority for our work with Georg and the RPWS data. Having said that I have attached a polar map from one of my RGB data sets for Feb 1st and clearly the hexagon can be seen. The hexagon can also be seen in the individual RGB & 742nm IR images. I have also attached an animation of 3 RGB data sets that covers the rotation over a 35 min period, I note that this animation reveals a few degrees rotation of the hexagonal polar storm.

Probably of greater interest to our RPWS work are some interesting details in the NEB. In the animation is a well defined spot mid way through the NEB, just to the Preceding side of the CM and moves toward the "P" limb. Also at a similar latitude in the NEB but starting from back toward the Following limb and moving toward the CM is another reasonably bright feature, however it seems to be more stretched out rather than just a spot.

Regards
Trevor

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#2 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:13 AM

RGB01

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#3 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:14 AM

Polar map

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#4 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:15 AM

RGB02

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#5 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:16 AM

RGB animation

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#6 Freddy WILLEMS

Fly Me to the Moon

Posts: 7,364
Joined: 13 Nov 2005

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:56 AM

Now that's a very nice and clear Polar projection Map Trevor. Great detail and sharp Hexagon all around (almost)..Now if you can capture the lightning that would be awesome, but that might require a 'special' filter ($$$)..

Back to top

#7 wenjha

Vendor

Posts: 1,089
Joined: 24 Sep 2008

Posted 03 February 2013 - 02:38 AM

Yes,very clear

Back to top

#8 ZielkeNightsky

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,539
Joined: 01 Oct 2006

Posted 03 February 2013 - 07:16 AM

Great set of images and animation. Most impressive

Back to top

#9 Mitchell Duke

Skylab

Posts: 4,190
Joined: 22 Apr 2008

Posted 03 February 2013 - 07:19 AM

Wow awesome detail in the Hex storm!

Back to top

#10 ToxMan

Skylab

Posts: 4,229
Joined: 23 Jan 2011

Posted 03 February 2013 - 08:21 AM

I am confident that a search through the PVOL data base would reveal many examples of it. I have never previously seen a polar map of it though, it has never really been a priority...

I'm certain you are correct. When I brought the hexagon feature to Darryl's attention a few days before he posted a better image of it, I thought of the hexagon as another feature we could strive to resolve. And, the significance would come at a later date. It's the first time we (amateurs) have had scopes, cameras, techniques and Saturn's tilt to get a "look" at it.

Very nice presentation, Trevor.

Hope the heat isn't drying you up and blowing you away, like a tumbleweed. You folks "down under" are really taking a "solar beating."

Paul

Back to top

#11 Rankinstudio

Gemini

Posts: 3,233
Joined: 05 Apr 2008

Posted 03 February 2013 - 10:18 AM

Awesome set of images Trevor

Back to top

#12 lcd1080

Apollo

Posts: 1,052
Joined: 03 Jun 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 10:53 AM

The hexagon in your polar projection looks so clear it would fare rather nicely in a geometry textbook, beautifully done Trevor! Did you derotate the R, G, and B channels individually and/or collectively?

Pete

Back to top

#13 Az Frank

Mercury-Atlas

Posts: 2,854
Joined: 18 Oct 2008

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:07 PM

Looks like some of your best work so far this aparition Trevor! No doubt about the hexagon in your projection map.Evident in your other images as well!Excellent job!

Back to top

#14 bunyon

Fly Me to the Moon

Posts: 6,444
Joined: 23 Oct 2010

Posted 03 February 2013 - 01:11 PM

Now that Jupiter is going away, I'm getting very jealous of you southerners. Not only is it warm, you have Saturn up high.

Fantastic images and a really nice animation. Thanks for giving us a look.

Back to top

#15 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 04 February 2013 - 03:59 AM

Thanks Freddy, reckon it would be really awesome to image the aurora at the Saturnian poles, Hubble has managed it but then the HST cost just a little more than my rig and is in a marginally better position.

Appreciate your comment Sam.

Thanks Mitch, in a few more years as the ring tilt opens wider the entire polar region containing the hex will be available to us.

Thanks Paul, in another 15 years we will be getting a similar view of the South Polar region to what we are currently seeing with the North Pole. I suppose, with an orbit of close to 30 years it takes a bit of time to see all the faces of Saturn but see them we will, well I will if I live long enough. Imagine what sort of equipment might be available then.

Thanks for the kind words David.

Thanks Pete,I derotated the R's from each set to create a new & improved R, did the same with the G & B data then merged them by derotating the new R, G & B to create the final image.

Thanks Frank, sadly I would have to agree that this is my best thus far for this apparition, however the seeing was quite variable with the best of it quite nice but rather a lot of very ordinary stuff mixed in with it. It would be great to get some good seeing to take full advantage of the really nice alt rather than be over processing marginal data to get a fair result.

Thanks Paul, yep, sure has been warm out in these parts of late but Saturn is rising higher and higher and for sure the weather will become milder and bring with it better imaging conditions.

Back to top

#16 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 04 February 2013 - 04:03 AM

Have done a Polar projection map of the 742nm IR data posted here. This is 21 min's prior to the RGB Polar projection map I originally posted.

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#17 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 04 February 2013 - 04:07 AM

A Polar projection map of the 2nd RGB in this post at 19-01 UTC which is 20 minutes after the initial RGB map in this post.

Attached Thumbnails

Back to top

#18 Mert

Voyager 1

Posts: 11,179
Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Posted 04 February 2013 - 08:56 AM

I doubt Hubble is in marginally better position, is there
any good beer out there?? LOL
Great images Trevor, always good to see work from you!!

Back to top

#19 ZuoZhao

Messenger

Posts: 407
Joined: 16 Oct 2012

Posted 04 February 2013 - 09:07 AM

Nice! My DOB10 cant show any details!

Back to top

#20 mitovka

Viking 1

Posts: 741
Joined: 08 Jun 2010

Posted 04 February 2013 - 01:32 PM

Impressive work Trevor!

ZZ I do not believe you...

Back to top

#21 Freddy WILLEMS

Fly Me to the Moon

Posts: 7,364
Joined: 13 Nov 2005

Posted 04 February 2013 - 03:00 PM

ZZ wait a bit for 10/10 seeing and it will show up this year for sure...

Back to top

#22 Jason H.

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,720
Joined: 23 Nov 2007

Posted 04 February 2013 - 10:13 PM

Oh yeah Trevor, very niiiiice! I was wondering when that was going to happen (the animation that is.) Is that the first animation of the hex by an amateur or ground-based scope?

Jason W. Higley

Back to top

#23 Kecktastic

Skylab

topic starter

Posts: 4,273
Joined: 16 Jan 2010

Posted 05 February 2013 - 07:01 AM

Good point Mert, reckon the lack of pressure out where the Hubble is would create a major beer boiling problem. It may have been hot out here in Broken Hill but at least the beer is cold.

Thanks ZuoZhao, based on the fine Jupiter's you have been posting it would likely only be the lower alt of Saturn that would be causing you a problem. As a matter of interest what alt is Saturn rising to for you?

Thanks Michal, I appreciate your comment.

Right on the money Freddy, as the tilt increases imaging the hex will be as commonplace as capturing the CD.

Thanks Jason, not sure about the animation. Darryl's Polar projection map, is for sure the first I have seen showing the hex so nicely, well at all really. I have always been big on animations, you could check that out on my website or the animations section of the PVOL data base. With Saturn I think it helps to better reveal the type of storm structure that my researcher is interested in. In this instance the straight edges of the hex are also well defined and rotation of it is quite apparent.

Back to top

#24 DesertRat

Fly Me to the Moon

Posts: 6,266
Joined: 18 Jun 2006

Posted 05 February 2013 - 08:16 PM

Great work Trevor! Look forward to more of your imaging of the ringed planet. When you get a great seeing window the result will be most impressive with that scope.

Glenn