Contains:  Solar system body or event
Io / Ganymede / Callisto (25 September 2023), rdk_CA

Io / Ganymede / Callisto (25 September 2023)

Acquisition type: Lucky imaging
Io / Ganymede / Callisto (25 September 2023), rdk_CA

Io / Ganymede / Callisto (25 September 2023)

Acquisition type: Lucky imaging

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

This image shows an unusual configuration of three of Jupiter's moons in late September 2023. Ganymede and Callisto are easily visible to the left of Jupiter. In addition, looking closely, you can also see Io hidden near the bottom of the Southern Equatorial Belt. It shadow grazes the cloud-tops of Jupiter (just barely visible at right side). Also visible is the South Polar Red Spot.

For this image, I acquired the data with my ZWO ASI 585 camera (gain: 309, exposure time: 16.1 ms). It was possible to obtain four 90 s captures (about 5000 frames each) of Jupiter before Io's shadow started to disappear at Jupiter's eastern limb. (I should have woken up earlier to catch it sooner!) I stacked the best 30% of approximately 20000 frames I captured during this time using AutoStakkert! 3, and then performed sharpening in Registax (with final adjustments using Photoshop).

Overall, the seeing conditions were reasonable for this image. The air was not quite steady enough to resolve much detail on Ganymede and Callisto, but after post-processing and WinJuPos de-rotation, it was possible to reveal fair amount of structure in the cloud belts of Jupiter and the darkened poles of Io are clearly visible.

Wishing all of you clear skies!

Comments

Histogram

Io / Ganymede / Callisto (25 September 2023), rdk_CA