As a response to all the attention that Jupiter has been receiving in the news, the planet Saturn is now putting on a show of a major storm in the North Temperate Zone.  Numerous amateur astronomers have been recording the development of this major outbreak.

As a long time observer of Saturn, a white spot this large and bright is a very rare event.  Visible features on the globe are usually small and dim, if visible at all.  Most are only discovered in photographs.  It is well worth your effort to see this current storm, even if you must content with winter conditions and rise up early to observe Saturn in the morning .

The following  are times when this ever expanding storm can be viewed in the Eastern Time Zone. How long this will be visible is not certain.

The white hue storm has spread out in the NTrZ and diminish in brightness. I am using the central Merdian of the major outbreak, more of the storm following it. It has been given a unoffical name as The Serpent Storm by those who view and image it frequently in the Saturn Yahoo Group.

As of June 2011 the Storm in the northern hemisphere of Saturn continues to show up in amateur photos.  Spreading across nearly the entire longitude there are few places it does not show up. This is a recent photo from TGC Observatory. Althought it was not seen visualy with the RC20 at any magnification. I could see the white belt  on the laptop screen using a  DFK31AUS camera for imaging.

Update CM  to 63.6 degrees SYSTEM III,  the Head of the Storm,  which is the latest information fron images by Efrain Morales Rivera posted on Saturn Yahoo Group on  June 17, 2011 .

Saturn North Equatorial Disturbance at  (NED) CM III 63.6   Eastern Daylight  Date and Time

6/18/2011 9:18:36 AM 7:58:02 PM 
6/19/2011 6:37:29 AM 5:16:55 PM 
6/20/2011 3:56:22 AM 2:35:48 PM 
6/21/2011 1:15:15 AM 11:54:41 AM 10:34:07 PM
6/22/2011 9:13:34 AM 7:53:01 PM 
6/23/2011 6:32:28 AM 5:11:54 PM 
6/24/2011 3:51:21 AM 2:30:48 PM 
6/25/2011 1:10:14 AM 11:49:41 AM 10:29:08 PM
6/26/2011 9:08:35 AM 7:48:02 PM 
6/27/2011 6:27:29 AM 5:06:56 PM 
6/28/2011 3:46:23 AM 2:25:50 PM 
6/29/2011 1:05:17 AM 11:44:44 AM 10:24:11 PM
6/30/2011 9:03:39 AM 7:43:06 PM 
7/1/2011 6:22:33 AM 5:02:01 PM 
7/2/2011 3:41:28 AM 2:20:55 PM 
7/3/2011 1:00:22 AM 11:39:50 AM 

John D Sabia

RESULTS (click picture for larger image)

TV101 - CoolPix 995 - 2 seconds 100 ISO @ 3:00 AM

TV101 - CoolPix 995 - 2 second 100 ISO @ 2:43 AM

One must be out in the early morning hours on Tuesday morning to see this Total Lunar Eclipse. The full moon will is riding high in the sky during the winter months for northern hemisphere observers. This will be the highest altitude start of an eclipse in a long while.

Tuesday Morning December 21, 2010

2010 Dec 21 01:29a Alt=71° Lunar Eclipse, Enter Penumbra

2010 Dec 21 02:00a Alt=67° Lunar Eclipse, Penumbra First Visible

2010 Dec 21 02:31a Alt=63° Lunar Eclipse, First Contact

2010 Dec 21 03:39a Alt=52° Lunar Eclipse, Second Contact

2010 Dec 21 04:17a Alt=45° Lunar Eclipse, Mid-eclipse

2010 Dec 21 04:55a Alt=38° Lunar Eclipse, Third Contact

2010 Dec 21 06:02a Alt=26° Lunar Eclipse, Last Contact

2010 Dec 21 06:34a Alt=20° Lunar Eclipse, Penumbra Last Visible

2010 Dec 21 07:05a Alt=20° Lunar Eclipse, Exit Penumbra

It will start out high and gradually lower as the night wears on. The graph show the position of First Contact.

Start now to determine a prime observing spot from your home location to setup your scope to see the event. Make sure there are no trees or building to block the moon. I know I must move a distance to clear some tall pines that will be in the way. The graphic also shows faint asteroids as red objects, one near the moon. Dress for the weather, and take a few breaks inside to warm up inside your home. If trying photography, insure you have additonal batteries for your camera, and the portable power pack is fully charged to drive the equatorial mount.

Some web sites with more info and animations on this eclipse:

http://www.shadowandsubstance.com/

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.html

The next Total Lunar Eclipse that we can see is not until Oct 8, 2014. Which will be settiing during the total phase. The September 28, 2015 will be placed better for us.

 Winter is here and with it colder nighttime temperatures. Don’t let that stop you looking at Jupiter; it’s in good viewing position as the night sky appears. I did have a fantastic view of Jupiter in the RC20 f/8.1 telescope one evening in October with near perfect seeing. Watch the white oval in the NEBs transit, the GRS and a red barge in the NTB transit later on. The GRS was seen easily with 26 mm and 15 mm eyepieces. A W82A filter gave a more pleasant view, while a deeper blue filter W47 made the GRS stand out on the planet. Even with those filters I could not see the Oval BA following that followed the GRS. A dusty region followed the GRS and was more southern in the STB. No sign the Oval BA was a darker red oval. I did manage to see, only once, a smaller white oval in the SSTB above the dusty region in the STB.

Nov 20, 2010 : I’ve kept the White Spot in the SEB,  added the SEB Revival Spot, and changed the longitide of Oval BA.

 These are only approximate transit times of current visible features. I’ll keep listing Oval BA in case it becomes a more easily target to see 
 
 2010 / 12 / 2  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 215.16 SYS II= 7.03

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   4:13 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  14: 8 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  2:55 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 12:51 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 22:46 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   2: 7 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  12: 3 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  21:58 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   7:48 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  17:43 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 3  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 13.36 SYS II= 157.15

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   0: 4 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  10: 0 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  19:56 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  8:42 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 18:38 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   7:54 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  17:50 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   3:39 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  13:35 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  23:31 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 4  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 170.86 SYS II= 307.62

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   5:51 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  15:47 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  4:33 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 14:29 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   3:45 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  13:41 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  23:37 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   9:26 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  19:22 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 5  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 328.36 SYS II= 97.38

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   1:43 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  11:39 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  21:34 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  0:25 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 10:21 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 20:17 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   9:33 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  19:29 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   5:18 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  15:14 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 6  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 126.21 SYS II= 247.5

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   7:30 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  17:26 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  6:13 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 16: 8 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   5:25 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  15:20 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   1:10 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  11: 6 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  21: 1 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 7  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 284.41 SYS II= 37.62

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   3:22 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  13:18 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  23:13 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  2: 4 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 12: 0 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 21:56 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   1:16 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  11:12 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  21: 8 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   6:57 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  16:53 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 8  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 81.91 SYS II= 188.09

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   9: 9 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  19: 4 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  7:51 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 17:47 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   7: 3 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  16:59 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   2:48 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  12:44 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  22:39 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 9  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 239.41 SYS II= 337.85

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   5: 1 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  14:57 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  3:43 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 13:39 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 23:34 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   2:55 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  12:51 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  22:46 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   8:36 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  18:32 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 10  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 37.62 SYS II= 127.97

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   0:52 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  10:48 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  20:44 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  9:30 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 19:26 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   8:42 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  18:38 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   4:28 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  14:23 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 11  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 195.12 SYS II= 278.09

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   6:40 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  16:35 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  5:22 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 15:18 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   4:34 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  14:30 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   0:19 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  10:15 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  20:11 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 12  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 352.97 SYS II= 68.55

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   2:31 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  12:26 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  22:22 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  1:13 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 11: 9 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 21: 4 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   0:25 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  10:21 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  20:16 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   6: 6 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  16: 2 U.T.

 2010 / 12 / 13  U.T. DATE , CM AT  0:00 U.T SYS I= 150.47 SYS II= 218.67

The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at   8:18 U.T.
The GRS Spot (SYS II = 160)  transits at  18:14 U.T.

The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at  7: 0 U.T.
The Oval BA  (SYS II = 113) in STZ  transits at 16:56 U.T.

The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at   6:12 U.T.
The White Oval (SYS II = 84) in NEB transits at  16: 8 U.T.

The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at   1:58 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  11:53 U.T.
The SEB Rivival Spot (SYS II = 290) in SEB transits at  21:49 U.T.