Saturn

 Saturn is the 6th planet from our Sun and it averages about 886 million miles from the Sun.  It is the 2nd largest planet in our Solar System with a radius of 36,200 miles, over 9 times that of the Earth.  It also takes about 29 years 5 months to complete 1 orbit around the Sun, but only about 10 1/2 hours to make 1 rotation.  It's rings are Saturns most distinctive feature. Galileo first observed Saturn in 1610 and described the rings as "ears".

Saturn has 83 confirmed moons orbiting as of January 2019.  Five of the moons are visible with binoculars or a small telescope.  They are Titan, Rhea, Dione, Tethys and Enceladus in order of size, largest to smallest. 

Saturn is a gas giant, like Jupiter.  With a telescope bands of clouds, but the Rings are it's most famous feature.  The rings extend out to 50,000 miles away from Saturns equator and are thickness ranges from 30 to 3000 feet.  The angle that the rings present to the Earth changes over it's 29 1/2 year obit around the Sun. Every 13 to 16 years, the rings appear edge on the Earth.   The next occurence of this will be in 2025.  Saturns Rings From 2018 to Present.

Since Saturn does not show as much surface features as Jupiter, it's fast rotation period of 10.5 hours is not as much of an issue for imaging as Jupiter.    The same technique should be used with Saturn as is with Jupiter, capturing short video clips and stacking them. 



2018 Images  2019 Images  2020 Images  2021 Images  2022 Images


The 2018 Season

Opposition on 27 June 2018

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Freeport, IL  USA
29 Jun 2018
23:48 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
5020
10%


PIPP
Registax6
Registax6
Photoshop

Taken before I collumated my C9.25 from it's purchase. It's very fuzzy and I could only stack 10%. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
2 July 2018
23:29 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
2229
10%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

After Collumation, much improved image.
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Freeport, IL  USA
13 August 2018
21:52 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7526
50%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Improved conditions and also worked on color balance.  
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Freeport, IL  USA
12 September 2018
20:12 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7532
50%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Enhanced to show the moons with Photoshop. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
11 October 2018
19:21 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
3614
75%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

One of last sessions for Saturn with very good conditions. 

The 2019 Season

Opposition on 9 July 2019

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Freeport, IL  USA
25 June 2019
04:11 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
11055
30%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

My first image of Saturn for 2019.  
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Freeport, IL  USA
12 July 2019
23:53 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7455
30%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Another aveage image of Saturn. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
16 August 2019
21:31 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
8883
30%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Another nice image.
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Freeport, IL  USA
4 September 2019
21:47 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
8903
30%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Last session for 2019 to capture Saturn.     

The 2020 Season

Opposition on 20 July 2020

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Freeport, IL  USA
18 June 2020
3:09 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
3613
25%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

First image of Saturn for 2020.  
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Freeport, IL  USA
6 August 2020
22:18 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
3612
70%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Very good conditions and stacked 70%. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
6 August 2020
22:18 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7514
50%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Good Conditions, used Topaz AI for additional sharpening step. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
29 August 2020
21:26 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
3610
35%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Nice Image, used 2X Expander, a bit grainy.  Needed more images to stack. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
10 October 2020
20:25 CDT
ASI290MC
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
3601
50%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Last Saturn session for 2020. 

The 2021 Season

Opposition on 2 August 2021

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Freeport, IL  USA
15 August 2021
00:54 CST
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
2706
40%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

First Saturn image of 2021. Very grainy. Conditions were average. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
14 October 2021
21:22 CST
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
10462
50%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Average image of Saturn.
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Freeport, IL  USA
18 October 2021
19:59 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7521
25%


AutoStakkert!3/Topaz AI
Registax6
Photoshop

Last image for 2021. Good clear image. 

The 2022 Season

Opposition on 14 August 2022

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Freeport, IL  USA
31 July 2022
02:31 CDT
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
12156
40%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

First image of Saturn for 2022. Worked on Collimation with a slight adjustment. My best image of Saturn. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
20 October 2022
20:46 CST
ASI290MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7208
30%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6/Topaz AI
Photoshop

Good Image of Saturn. 
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Freeport, IL  USA
22 October 2022
22:55 CST
ASI662MC w/2x Expander
Celestron C9.25
2350mm
Celestron NexStar Evolution
7165
30%


AutoStakkert!3
Registax6
Photoshop

Final Saturn image for 2022. Using ASI662 camera.  



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