Saturn Image 2013/04/26(UT)

土星 ALPO-Japan Latest

Saturn Image 2013/04/26(UT)
阿久津富夫
Christopher Go,Trevor Barry,Manos Kardasis,Frank J Melillo,Kolovos Dimitrios,Damian Peach
Christopher Go,T.Barry,T.Akutsu,Kardasis,Frank,Kolovos,D.Peach

Christopher Go (355mm SC)

Saturn's ring continues to brighten due to the Seeliger Effect or Opposition Surge. This is due to the ice grains in Saturn's rings are perfectly reflecting sunlight back to earth and there are now shadows! This effect will peak on Opposition day on the 28th of this month.
The North Polar Hexagon of Saturn is distinct. There seems to be some white spots on the NNTZ. There is also a hint of the NNTZ Dark Spot!

[Christopher Go : Cebu Philippines]

Trevor Barry(406mm Newtonian)

Imaged Saturn last night in the best seeing I have had this apparition but it only lasted for 17 minutes before cloud filled in. Have some very high res data that I think is of significance. There are two EZ spots in this data,one fainter than the other and neither as bright as the EZ spot I imaged April 25th.

I have measured the positions of both EZ spots,the brighter of them is at L3 51.8 Lat -0.5 the other is at L3 70.5 Lat -2.4 Of further interest is a bright spot in the storm remnant that leads the dark spot,this feature was noted by Bird about a month ago and is very prominent in this data at L3 61.3 Lat +49.5
It appears there must be several EZ spots but to pick up any,other than the very bright one on April 25th,requires very good seeing.
The dark spot on this night was at L3 97.3 Lat +46.2 . The hexagon is extremely well defined in both R & RGB polar projections.
As I write this I am getting ready to capture more data,tonight is looking good at the moment.
Note that the 742 IR data was all captured through ever increasing cloud which is why it is not as hi res as the RGB data.

[Trevor Barry:Broken Hill:Australia]

Tomio Akutsu (355mm SC)


≪Cebu PHILLIPINES  阿久津富夫≫

Manos Kardasis (280mm SCT )

This is the best set from last night's session,with moments of good seeing.Part of the North pole hexagon is visible.Saturn is a rather demanding target for capturing any details beyond banding especially with scopes smaller than 12inch.But even with larger telescopes reveal tiny bright and dark spots,so Saturn looks rather quiet from earth now....

[Manos Kardasis,Glyfada-Athens;Greece]
《カーダシスマノス:ギリシャアテネ》

Frank J Melillo(254mm SC)

[Frank J Melillo Holtsville NY U.S.A]

Kolovos Dimitrios ( 280mm SCT )

[Kolovos Dimitrios,Athens Greece]
《コロボスデミトゥリオスギリシャアテネ》

Damian Peach (356mm Celestron SCT)

Here is Saturn from April 26th. Despite being up at 1900m altitude seeing was poor so only a red light image was obtained.

[Damian Peach: Loudwater,Buckinghamshire,United Kingdom]

ALPO-Japan Latest Saturn Section	2013/04/27
	2013/04/25