Saturn 8 May 2011 in LRGB color

by Craig and Tammy Temple

This was our first image of Saturn taken in LRGB and resampled to 150%. We managed to capture the data in between clouds. We were not expecting much, given the conditions, but were pleasantly surprised with the results. We still have lots to learn and plenty of room for improvement, but are really enjoying planetary imaging so far.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System and is classified as a gas giant. Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, & Neptune are sometimes referred to as the Jovian ("Jupiter-like) planets. Saturn has a radius that is about nine times larger than Earth's. It has nine rings, composed of mostly ice with a little rocky debris and dust, and sixty-two known moons, of which fifty-three are officially named. Saturn rotates on its axis once every 10 hours, 32 minutes, 35 seconds and takes 10,579 Earth days (about 29 & 1/2 years) to complete one revolution around the Sun.