New near-polar white oval on Saturn

Hello to all -
There seems to be a new high southern, nearly polar, white oval that has
just appeared on Saturn; we were able to pick up on this early this morning
at ASO and later confirm about 45 minutes later after this had rotated
toward the CM.

The first patrol image was made under very turbulent air but clearly shows
the oval/spot rotating into the pr. limb of Saturn.  For those not receiving
this image directly it is found on the ASO Planetary Patrol image archives
at:
www.arksky.org/asoimg/sat02_1031.jpg , taken at 08:47 UT

Forty-five minutes later, 09:30 the seeing had steadied quite well and the
oval has rotated just nearing the CM:
www.arksky.org/asoimg/sat02_1031b.jpg

With the typically bad and overcast forecasts for most of the U.S., it is
hoped that some high resolution imaging will be done by some of you to
continue to monitor this feature.

Thanks and steady skies!
Clay
[Dr. P. Clay Sherrod  Arkansas  State U.S.A]
 ≪クレイ　シェラード　アメリカ　アーカンサス≫

Hi all,
Here are some LRGB, I Band and RGB Saturn images from
the 31st. Note the tiny SPC appears darkest in IR.






hi again,
Here is a high contrast R,G,B image showing the
colours across the Planet, and data.
Best Wishes
Damian


SATURN IMAGES, OCTOBER 31st, 2002.

D. A. Peach, Costa del Silencio, Tenerife, Canary Isl.
12" (30.5 cm) Meade SCT @ f/21.0 & f/29.1. SBIG ST-5c camera.
SBIG RGB Filter set.

Total Exposure Times:

Integrated Light:
Red Light: 69 x 0.45secs
Green Light: 55 x 0.45secs
Blue Light: 91 x 0.45 secs
IR (800-1200nm):

Seeing good- occasionally very good (6-9.)
Transparency excellent (5.5mag+.)
No wind. Light dew.

Equatorial Diam= 19.7"
Altitude=70 degs.




[Rochester, Kent, UK.]
 ≪ダミアン−ピーチ　イギリス≫

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