Saturn, Jupiter, and Martian Volcanoes.

Saturn, Jupiter, and Martian Volcanoes

Displayed are some of the images taken thru March of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars.  

The first two images were taken by Vladimir Alexandrov and Mitchell Revalski of the NJAA Research Group.  These images were captured the night after Wayne Jaeschke’s presentation on lunar/planetary imaging.  We learned a lot from Wayne and everyone was excited to image.  The last two images of Mars were taken by yours truly a week later.  

Saturn 3/11/12 by

Vladimir Alexandrov

12” RCX 400, @ F20

DMK21AU04,  2X Telvue Barlow

Schirra Observatory

Saturn

Saturn is considered the most beautiful planet in the solar system.    Saturn is also one of the most difficult planets to image!  Unfortunately, Saturn is not as bright as one would expect.  This creates a host of problems as we try to capture the detail on the planet.  To obtain this image, NJAA Research Group member Vladimir Alexandrov stayed out till 5 am in the morning.   By 4:30 am the planet was high enough for a good image to be obtained.  Vlad had to increase the gain on the DMK21AU4 CCD imaging camera due to the planets low magnitude.   The exposure time was much longer than typically used for Mars and Jupiter at f20.   Still, Vlad’s hard work paid off with an excellent image of the ringed planet that shows a wealth of detail.   Close scrutiny of Vlad’s image shows 8 belts/zones along with the A,B, and C rings.  The Cassini division is evident along with a hint of the Enke Minima.

Jupiter 3/10/12 by

Mitchell Revalski

12” RCX 400, @ F20

DMK21AU04,  2X Telvue Barlow

Schirra Observatory

Jupiter

Imaging Jupiter was no easy task.  The low altitude and smaller size of the planet make it more difficult to image than a few months ago.  After imaging Mercury and Venus, Mitchell Revalksi turned the 12” RCX on Jupiter.  Three images were obtained with the DMK21AU04 CCD camera, and later processed with Autostakkert 2.  The separate R, G, B filtered images were than compiled in Photoshop CS2.   This image is important considering that it clearly shows the thinning of the Northern Equatorial Belt (NEB).

If the observer looks at the two main belts of Jupiter they will note that the NEB is going thru a dramatic change.  Many of the drawings by Steve Gale clearly show the thinning NEB too. 

Mars 3/23/12   1:46 UT

  

Mars

Mars is changing with the seasons.  As noted before, the planet is currently going thru summer as the Northern Polar Cap (NPC) shrinks.  Clouds have been seen on the Red planet just about every day.  On the night of March 23, I was able to image the planet at two different times, three hours apart.   This was after the discovery of a strange high altitude cloud by lunar/planetary imager, Wayne Jaeschke.  

(More information about the strange Martian cloud can be found here:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/30/10945735-mars-mystery-cloud-explained)

   I was not able to image the cloud feature observed by Wayne.  But the 8” SCT used for imaging did not disappoint!  The image taken at 1:46 UT shows three dark circles that correspond to the location of volcanoes on the Martian surface.  The large Nix Olympia can also be seen to the right of the three smaller volcanoes.  Nix Olympia contains a dark surrounding area coupled with a cloud formation over the volcanoes peak area and to the north of it. 

     Mars 3/23/12   3:35 UT

    Three hours later, at 3:35 UT, the planet was imaged again.  By this time, the previous volcanoes had rotated to the side with Nix Olympia dead center.  A tiny cloud can be viewed over its peak coupled with a larger cloud on its western side (left side in image).

These images were sent to the British Astronomical Association Mars Director, Richard Mckrim.

Richard, remarked that the detail was excellent for an 8” scope and that the Martian volcanoes do become darker at this point in the Martian season.  (the dark circles in the 1:46 UT image).   This was a relief as I originally could not match the appearence of the surface markings in the 1:46 UT image with the expected view from the Mars Previewer II software.   A follow up with a Mars iphone app, showed that volcanoes were located exactly where the three dark patch circles were located in the 1:46 UT image.

Conclusion

Hopefully the weather will cooperate and many more images of the planets will follow.

I am very pleased with our success and Wayne Jaeschke’s advice has really paid off.   I am extremely thankful for all the hardwork done by the members of the NJAA Research Group.  To top it off, we have had excellent support from the NJAA board members.  One of the board members (Al Witzgal) even donated a rare Telvue 2.5X barlow for imaging. 

As for the planets, Saturn will be nearing opposition in the coming weeks.   Mars is going to start shrinking in size (as viewed from Earth).  Hence the detail on the planet will be more difficult to image.   Still, now is an excellent time to keep an eye on Mars planet as other observers stop following it.  

William Anthony
NJAA Research Director