New storm at NNTZ-NNTB boundary?, Amateur imaging suggests new storm formation? Options

[Alterra]

Hi all

I wish to bring the attention of the group, to a possible new big storm in formation over the NNTZ/NNTB transition area in Saturn.

It has been imaged by several amateur astrophotographers around the world, specially from May 14th.
Some links for images:
By Tiziano Olivetti, Bangkok
http://alpo-j.asahikawa-med.ac.jp/kk15/s150516z.htm
By Darryl Pfitzner Milika, Adelaide
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hpho...f2bb0f3f30d197b
Almir Germano, Brazil
http://www.astrobin.com/full/180820/0/ (the one attached to this topic)

It appears at roughly 260° in L2 & extending from 60°N to 67°N approximately at its greatest "displacement." as estimated by Darryl, using WinJupos.

Is there any chances that it appears in the raw data Cassini images recently?
Moreover, do you think it can be imaged at any time in the current mission?

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[Alterra]

Quickly evolving...
Here most recent data from Darryl Pfitzner Milika
http://momilika.net/WebPages/LatestSaturnPics.htm
and mine
http://www.astrobin.com/181677/B/
Any thoughts?

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[Bill Harris]

It might possibly be imaged, depending on orbital constraints.

The website for current raw images is

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/raw/

And the Cassini CICLOPS (general outreach) is at:

http://www.ciclops.org/ir_index/184/Cassini_In_Orbit?js=1

This may be a good storm to follow.

--Bill

[Floyd]

Also see Cassini Looking ahead (currently Revolution 216) at www.ciclops.org.

"On May 25, ISS will acquire a 16-hour, Saturn cloud tracking observation. In addition to measuring wind-speed, this observation will be used to better understand the effect of Saturn's upper haze layers on the lower-lying cloud's appearance, by observing the clouds at different emission angles. Emission angles range from 0 degrees when looking straight down to 90 degrees when observing a feature at the horizon or limb. On May 26, ISS will ride along with a 19-hour, VIMS observation to acquire a global map of Saturn."

"On June 2, ISS will acquire a pair of quick observations of Saturn using the Wide-Angle Camera (WAC). These observations are part of a series of "Storm Watch" observation sequences designed to take advantage of short, two-minute segments when the spacecraft turns the optical remote sensing (ORS) instruments back to Saturn as a waypoint between other experiments' observations. These sequences include blue, clear, two methane band, and one full-frame, continuum band filter images. Two more storm watch observations will be taken June 4."

I would think these observations should image the new storm.

[Alterra]

Also see Cassini Looking ahead (currently Revolution 216) at www.ciclops.org.

"On May 25, ISS will acquire a 16-hour, Saturn cloud tracking observation. In addition to measuring wind-speed, this observation will be used to better understand the effect of Saturn's upper haze layers on the lower-lying cloud's appearance, by observing the clouds at different emission angles. Emission angles range from 0 degrees when looking straight down to 90 degrees when observing a feature at the horizon or limb. On May 26, ISS will ride along with a 19-hour, VIMS observation to acquire a global map of Saturn."

"On June 2, ISS will acquire a pair of quick observations of Saturn using the Wide-Angle Camera (WAC). These observations are part of a series of "Storm Watch" observation sequences designed to take advantage of short, two-minute segments when the spacecraft turns the optical remote sensing (ORS) instruments back to Saturn as a waypoint between other experiments' observations. These sequences include blue, clear, two methane band, and one full-frame, continuum band filter images. Two more storm watch observations will be taken June 4."

I would think these observations should image the new storm.

Thanks for the heads up Floyd, will keep an eye on it.
More current amateur imagery on this, from Christopher Go, Phillipines
http://astro.christone.net/saturn/s20150525_cgo.jpg

[Ian R]

There's something present in this image, right at the limb but approximately at tbe correct latitude. Could this be our storm?

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...9/W00092600.jpg

[Ian R]

[Ian R]

Latest 'Storm Obs' images are down:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...9/W00092622.jpg

[Alterra]

Latest 'Storm Obs' images are down:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...9/W00092622.jpg

Looks very much so!
Thanks Ian

[Alterra]

A first attempt on processing and animating some of the MT3+CL2 Cassini images, from the storm orbits.
Just rotate, noise reduction and increasing contrast

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[Alterra]

Another version

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