Saturn Processing Lab

Choose left and right images, then drag the divider. Your original files and processing variants are retained.

Browse by observing night

Pick a night, then choose AutoStakkert-only, identical RegiStax wavelets, or the finished color and ring profiles. Original processing is retained.

Oct 7Early season benchmark · raw AS4 and RegiStax Oct 18 · 11:01 PMSeason benchmark · Full Topaz and exact-wavelet study Oct 19 · 11:50 PMWarm globe and natural rings comparison Oct 20Historical seeing and wavelet comparisons Oct 21 · 11:29 PMNative processing and softer-ring variants Oct 22–23Best overnight captures · several finish choices Oct 28 · 11:25 PMFeatured f/20 keeper · native cross-night comparison
Open latest Oct 28 night

Choose two captures in the historical comparator below. Use the buttons to switch both sides to the same processing layer.

Left image

Right image

Exact source framing (no automatic scaling) When checked, measure the Saturn ring width and center independently in each selected image, then display both at the same ring span. The original PNG/TIFF files are never resized or overwritten.
Saturn image selected on left
Saturn image selected on right

Open or save either original comparison image

LEFT selected image
Open PNG Save JPEG 16-bit TIFF
RIGHT selected image
Open PNG Save JPEG 16-bit TIFF

Both sides follow the capture and processing picklists. PNG is the displayed lossless image; JPEG is created from that image at full native resolution for sharing; TIFF opens/downloads the preserved processing file (some historical variants do not have a 16-bit TIFF).

Historic processing notes, older animations, and technical research
RGB-BALANCED BASELINE (ALL 15): RegiStax Test A -20 wavelets remain exactly identical across captures. Both default images and all 15 date dropdowns now use the same objective neutral-ring RGB balance method, which corrects the 2021 yellow cast without extra sharpening. Each date also retains ORIGINAL RGB (unbalanced), and the dedicated slider provides an RGB-balance toggle. Open comparison.
HISTORICAL BASELINE COMPLETE: Oct 7, three Oct 19 captures, three Oct 20 evening captures, and Aug 2021 have genuine RegiStax Test A -20 native reprocessing, now available in the same-wavelets drag slider. Oct7 used AS3 10%, and Aug2021 used AS3 28% (same wavelets but different stack %). Compare all 15 captures.
ANIMATION REV2: Open the Saturn animation lab with the new Dione continuity rev2 selected by default. The original rev1 remains selectable. Rev2 changes only faint Dione in seven early frames, not Saturn or Rhea.
NEW APPLE-TO-APPLE TEST: Both panes now default to the same exact RegiStax Test A -20 wavelets (genuine AS4 10% / 1.5x; no extra Topaz or Gold Mid). Compare Oct 18 to Oct 21/23 without processing differences. Open 15-capture exact wavelets + consistent RGB-balanced slider, matched scale + ring angle | Exact .rwv wavelet settings.
PERMANENT SHARPNESS REFERENCE: Oct 18 11:01 PM exact Full Topaz / Punchy Rings / Richer Gold v2 / White Rings on the left; choose other nights on the right. Open the immutable-reference sharpness comparison page. No artificial sharpness is added to hide differences in seeing.
Open Oct 22-23 lab | Watch Saturn and Dione REV2 - steady moon after entry, original retained | Open Oct 21 lab. Both nights are now selectable in each comparison pane, including gray C-ring Gold Mid options.
Other comparisons and processing research

These are still available but no longer crowd the main comparison view.