|
|
SATURN - DETAIL IN RED
|
The red filter provides the greatest contrast for cloud detail on
Saturn. Taken 1/10/04 stack of 19 red filter image of 0.50 sec each at f/30
Shows sharp ring and atmospheric detail
|
|
|
SATURN IN COLOR
|
|
This magnificent picture of Saturn shows several of the faint
atmospheric cloud bands and their subtle coloring. The icy A-ring shows
brightly compared to the dustier B-ring. Saturn was 1.21 billion km away
and had her south pole tilted 25.7 degrees toward us. Taken 1/10/04 by
stacking several RGB images at 0.50 sec each at f/30.
|
|
|
SATURN AND 7 MOONS
|
The 7 brightest moons of Saturn all appear here, thanks to fortuitous positioning by
Iapetus, which is usually seen much further from the planet. Even little Mimas
cooperated. At least 50 moons are now known to orbit the ringed planet.
Saturn is overexposed to show the moons.
Taken 1/22/04 stack of 11 clear filter images of 1 sec each at f/10.
|
|
|
JUPITER
|
Taken 4/12/04 stack of 15 each RGB at 0.50 sec each at f/30
Shows Great Red Spot (GRS) and a moon.
|
|
|
|
MARS NEAR OPPOSITION
|
These 2 pictures of Mars were taken the same evening a few hours apart.
Mars was just days past its historically close opposition, and was still only
59.86 million km away and 23.4 arcseconds in size. The red-filter composite
on the right shows the cleft in the south polar cap, which is tilted 19.1 degrees
toward us.
Taken 9/15/03 stack of 15 each RGB at 0.15 sec each f/30
|
|
|
|
MARS RECEDES
|
These 2 pictures of Mars were taken a month apart, on 9/21/03 (left) and 10/20/03
(right). They show how quickly Mars pulled away from Earth after the historic
opposition of August, 2003. Mars was 62.60 million km away on the left and
83.50 million km on the right. In both images the south polar cap is seen at
the 7:00 position.
Left: Taken 9/21/03 stack of 25 each RGB at 0.15 sec each f/30;
Right: Taken 10/20/03 stack of 25 each RGB at 0.20 sec each (B = 0.50 sec each) at f/30
|
|
|
LUNAR SEA
|
This is a view of Mare Imbrium, an ancient volcanic lavabed. The crater Archimedes
in the upper right is 83 km diameter. Below it lie the Montes Apenninus, named
for the mountain range in Italy. Its peaks reach 5 km. Apollo 15 landed near
these mountains. The other 2 large crates in this image are newer - they were
formed after the lava flooding.
Taken 9/4/03 as a composite of RGB 0.02-second exposures at f/10.
|
|
|
MOON'S SOUTH POLE
|
Here is the heavily cratered south polar region of the moon. The rugged outline
is non-sperical. The crater Clavius is the large crater at the left above center,
with its floor in shadow and 2 smaller craters inside it outlined. Although this
is a color image, the neutral gray color of the moon resembles a black-and-white.
Taken 9/4/03 as a composite of RGB 0.02-second exposures at f/10.
|
|
|
COMET LINEAR
|
|
The top picture is a color composite showing the green ionized gases of the
comet. The stars appear as red-green-blue streaks because the comet was
moving quickly across the sky while the many frames were taken for this color
composite. (7/17/04 composite of several RGB frames at 30-seconds at
f/3.3). The bottom picture taken the same night has been processed to
show the dual tails to the right of the coma (clear filter only).
|
|
|
COMET MACHHOLZ
|
The top picture is a color composite showing the bluish appearance of the comet.
The stars appear as red-green-blue streaks because the comet was moving quickly across
the sky while the many frames were taken for this color composite. (2/4/05 composite
of several RGB frames at 30-seconds at f/3.3)
The bottom picture taken the same night has been processed to show the dual tails to the
right of the coma. (clear filter only, 15 seconds)
|
|
|
DISTANT URANUS
|
This image overexposed Uranus to show Ariel just above the planet, with
Titania and Oberon below it. All 3 moons are magnitude 14.
Taken 10/17/03 with clear filter, stack of several 10-second exposures, f/10
|
|
|
|
NEPTUNE & TRITON
|
Neptune is the bright object at the center of this image. Its largest moon
Triton is just below and to the right. For comparison, it is just slightly
brighter than the 14th magnitude star directly below the planet and further away.
Taken 8/27/03, stack of 4 frames of 1-second exposures, clear filter, f/10.
|
