Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

CCD vs Film? Lots of time vs no patience? Alright, this is your place to discuss all the astrophotography what's and what's not. You can discuss about techniques, accessories, cameras, whatever....just make sure you also post some nice photos here too!
rifleman175
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Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by rifleman175 »

In the blink of an eye, 2021 is almost half gone. But fret not, astrophotographers like us are always kept busy with all kinds of targets to shoot year round, so we'll never feel like time has been unduly wasted. (Except on cloudy nights haha)

This post is devoted to Jupiter and Saturn imagery, and I'll post whenever I have data on these 2 giants amongst the planets.

I mostly use my Celestron C9.25 as the main telescope coupled with a 2.5x Televue PowerMate and ZWO ADC, with ASI462MC as the imaging camera for most of the planetary imaging. The flter used is the Optolong L filter, with plans to start CH4 imaging in the near future.

Enjoy!
Last edited by rifleman175 on Wed May 19, 2021 2:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
rifleman175
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by rifleman175 »

Jupiter

I had a bout of good seeing in the early morning hours of last Saturday, and therefore proceeded to capture Jupiter even though it's altitude is around 50 degrees above the horizon. Jupiter continues to exhibit fascinating details on its disc, especially around the Great Red Spot, where turbulence is seen to its northeast. The equatorial zone begins to darken, while the NEB is active with 2-3 dark streaks trailing off to the southeast towards the equatorial zone.

15 May 21.38 UTC

Image derotated over approximately 15min of total capture time.

CM1: 215.6
CM2: 44.4
CM3: 202.0
mmexport1621060801982.jpg
15 May 22.00 UTC

CM1: 228.8
CM2: 57.5
CM3: 215.2

Derotation done over approximately 1h capture time.
mmexport1621061331265.jpg
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Dragon Man
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by Dragon Man »

Nice detail, and not over-processed. Well done :D
Cheers, Ken :D

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rifleman175
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by rifleman175 »

Dragon Man wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 7:50 pm Nice detail, and not over-processed. Well done :D
Thanks! I always have to fight the temptation to rack up the wavelets settings in Registax during processing. :D
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by hhzhang »

Amazing! Yours are encouraging to someone who wants to purchase C9.25 -- just no stock everywhere.
rifleman175
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by rifleman175 »

hhzhang wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 8:52 pm Amazing! Yours are encouraging to someone who wants to purchase C9.25 -- just no stock everywhere.
Thanks! The C9.25 is truly a great scope for planetary imaging that is still portable.
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by Airconvent »

So much detail! Thanks for sharing.
btw, why stop at C9.25? Go for the C14 ! :)
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hhzhang
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by hhzhang »

Airconvent wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 6:46 pm So much detail! Thanks for sharing.
btw, why stop at C9.25? Go for the C14 ! :)
Cannot agree more Especially with rifleman175 in love with C14, he might let go of his C9.25 -- then ... haha
rifleman175
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by rifleman175 »

Airconvent wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 6:46 pm So much detail! Thanks for sharing.
btw, why stop at C9.25? Go for the C14 ! :)
Haha I have a C11 on the way, C14 is currently out of my budget (and mount capacity). Need to save more!
rifleman175
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Re: Jupiter and Saturn Apparition 2021

Post by rifleman175 »

After almost three weeks since the last planetary session, I had finally overcome my laziness to go out again early dawn for more Jupiter shots. However, despite the apparently steady skies from visual estimates, the seeing turned out to be less than optimal and only could be described as fair to poor on general. I only managed to capture 5 one-minute videos over 13 minutes that were actually of any good, with the occasional fumbling around to get the focus and atmospheric dispersion corrector settings fine-tuned in between.

5 June 21.50 UTC

Image derotated over approximately 5min of total capture time.

CM1: 96.7
CM2: 117.6
CM3: 281.1
2021-06-05-2150_7-RGB Final.jpg
Note the distinctive undulations appearing on the NTBn (North Temperate Belt north) and SEBs (South Equatorial Belt south), as well as the white oval-shaped storms in the SSTB (South South Temperate Belt). The EZ (equatorial zone) is still dyed a deep orange-brown instead of the usual creamy white, indicative that the gas giant is still within its cloud-clearing phase over the equator. The equatorial updraft is somehow suppressed, thereby limiting the formation of ammonia clouds and revealing the lower layers of the atmosphere rich in "photochemical smog". Such events are observed to occur every 6-7 years, with each episode lasting typically 12-18 months.

Stay tuned as we move into the gas giant season proper over the coming months!
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