My Sharpest Saturn Yet

I'm thrilled to share my latest capture of Saturn, and I believe it's my sharpest yet!

This image was brought to life using a C9.25 telescope paired with an ASI662MC camera. To achieve this level of detail, I utilized a 2x Barlow lens and an IR685nm filter, which was then blended with an OSC (one-shot color) image.

The processing involved stacking 3 minutes of captured data, derotated using WinJupos to account for Saturn's rotation. Further enhancements were made with color adjustment and wavelets in Registax6, followed by blending in GIMP to bring out the finest details.

One of the most striking features in this image is Saturn's distinct oblate spheroid shape. This flattening at the poles and bulging at the equator is a direct result of its rapid rotational speed, a characteristic particularly noticeable in gas giants like Saturn. It's a beautiful visual reminder of the dynamic forces at play within our solar system, truly making Saturn the 'King of the Rings'.