| 2010 StormE last images analysis from 2010.06.01 to 2010.07.24 by M.Delcroix |
With delay, i send you the last analysis of Saturn's 2010 storm observations: This is the last analysis of this 2010 storm till end of amateur observations due to Saturn's solar conjunction. After previous fading, the storm, separated into 3 zones, brightened again as shown on A.Wesley's and C.Pellier's images on June 3rd. It then faded continuously, till being barely visible on June 28th. The very last images after that date, mostly from T.Barry, did not showed it clearly anymore. Nonetheless due to the small inclination of the planet towards the Sun at the end of July, Cassini's ISS attempted to image lightning again on the night side on July 24th, and imaged some white features some of them looking like the familiar distorted storm shapes seen for previous storms. The confirmation that some of these images are the same storm followed by amateurs would come with the release of the calibration of these images when made public. Overall this 2010 storm has lasted around 4/5 months, and showed regularly 3 major bright clouds with several brightness episodes, and has been nicely covered by amateur images around the globe. This analysis and the previous ones are available on this page: http://astrosurf.com/planetessaf/saturne/saturn_2010-storm.htm Thank you to all observers who provided the images all along this apparition. I hope that for the next one we will be able to do such a coverage again. Steady skies,[Marc Delcroix Tournefeuille,France]
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