Exosky.net - Wayne Jaeschke's Astrophotography

Saturn — May 21

Wayne J. — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:01:47 +0000

The seeing was fair last night for these images of Saturn.

First, an RGB (i.e., color) image…

and in IR…

Plato and the Sinus Iridum

Wayne J. — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:21:56 +0000

Here’s a widefield view of Crater Plato and the Sinus Iridum (the half moon to the lower right from Plato), taken this evening while I wait for Saturn to rise.

Saturn — May 10 in good seeing

Wayne J. — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:02:52 +0000

We were supposed to be clouded-out, last night. However, I noticed that the skies cleared around 10pm and the seeing steadied around the time of culmination. With Saturn at about 38 degrees altitude, here are some images of the ringed gas-giant.

Here is an image in near-IR (>742nm)

And finally the original RGB that adds a 50% luminance from the IR (purely for aesthetics, but it does help to see the smaller details visible in the IR image).

Globular Cluster M3

Wayne J. — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:56:39 +0000

Here’s an image of M3, taken last night under very unstable (but quite transparent) skies. The seeing was too poor for planetary work, but I didn’t want to let the clear skies go to waste.

Saturn — May the 4th (be with you!)

Wayne J. — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:53:24 +0000

Here’s a “Star Wars Day” Saturn, taken at a scant 32 degrees altitude under fairly steady and transparent skies. A small white spot is visible in the NTZ. The north polar hexagon is barely discernible.

Here’s the same RGB with a 50% IR luminance added, just for aesthetics.

A last look at Jupiter…

Wayne J. — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:04:04 +0000

It’s been a while since my last images, but the weather has been quite horrid here for the past few months. Here are some images of Jupiter taken late this afternoon, about an hour before sunset. The sun was a bit more than 8 degrees above the horizon, so these were taken in essentially full daylight. The transparency was excellent and the seeing wasn’t too bad.

This will probably be my last Jupiter image of the apparition, but the new apparition is just around the corner.

Jupiter after a long break…

Wayne J. — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 02:19:57 +0000

It’s been over 2 months since the weather allowed any imaging. The seeing was fair tonight and the skies fairly transparent, allowing for these RGB and IR images to be taken. Jupiter has moved much farther from us over the past months, so it appears quite a bit smaller than it did during my last session.

Jupiter — January 8 in fairly good seeing.

Wayne J. — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:13:12 +0000

Happy New Year!

The weather has been quite uncooperative lately, but skies were clear and steady enough last night for these images of Jupiter, now well-past opposition.

Jupiter and Europa in Surprisingly Good Seeing…

Wayne J. — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:54:57 +0000

The forecast for last night was for average seeing. Good luck prevail, though, and the conditions exceeded expectations for these views showing the GRS just rotating over the preceding limb with Oval BA well out ahead of it now, but with the dark red spot appearing to keep pace with it. The NEB is quiet except for a few bright spots, as is the SEB other than the dark red streak with the light spot behind it.

The first image shows Europa off to the lower right.

And a few minutes later, after Oval BA had rotated into view a bit better.

And in IR

Jupiter — December 7

Wayne J. — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 23:59:41 +0000

Despite very cold temperatures (around 24F, or about -4C) and a thick haze and low clouds, there were stable skies for these images of Jupiter last night, showing the GRS rotating toward the central meridian.

And one more from just a few minutes later…