My Sharpest Saturn Yet: Rhea's Shadow and a Moon Hunt!
Last night, I managed to capture what I believe is my sharpest ever image of Saturn. The conditions were near perfect, and the result is a detailed view of the ringed planet with a fascinating celestial event: the shadow of Saturn's moon Rhea cast upon the planet's surface!
This image was made possible by a dedicated setup: a C9.25 telescope, an ASI662MC camera, a ZWO ADC, and a UV/IR cut filter. The processing pipeline was equally robust, involving ASICap, Autostakkert, Registax6, WinJupos, and Lightroom to bring out the incredible detail.
Spotting the Moons
As a little challenge, I also wanted to see if others could spot the four visible moons in this image. The feedback has been wonderful, with many readers enjoying the hunt! For those struggling to find them:
- Look directly beneath the end of the rings, towards the bottom of the picture.
- Another moon can be spotted just outside the rings on the bottom.
It's always exciting to engage with the community and share these moments of discovery.
Answering Your Questions
A common question I received was about Saturn's orientation – why it appears 'sideways'. The simple answer is that in space, there's no true up or down. I chose this particular angle because I felt it offered a pleasing aesthetic for the image. It's a reminder that while science drives our observations, art also plays a role in how we appreciate the cosmos.
Thank you for all the kind words and for sharing in my excitement. Capturing images like this is a labor of love, and seeing your appreciation makes it all worthwhile!
