Saturn October 28 - best 180-second image

All observing nights and seeing comparisons

Top pick: 11:25 PM. 11:22 PM is the runner-up. October 18 at 11:01 PM remains the benchmark.

Draggable Saturn comparison - actual images

Go to native processing and animations

Drag the white dividing line left or right (or use arrow keys) to compare recorded detail at the same display size. Select any two dates and any of the matched processing profiles.

LEFT image - captureOct 18 11:01 PM · f/19 · 5,400 mmOct 28 11:00 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 11:13 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 11:22 PM · f/20 · 5,650 mmOct 28 11:25 PM · f/20 · 5,650 mmOct 28 9:31 PM · f/20 · 5,650 mmOct 28 9:43 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:28 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:38 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:46 PM · f/20 · 5,750 mmOct 28 10:50 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:55 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mm RIGHT image - captureOct 18 11:01 PM · f/19 · 5,400 mmOct 28 11:00 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 11:13 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 11:22 PM · f/20 · 5,650 mmOct 28 11:25 PM · f/20 · 5,650 mmOct 28 9:31 PM · f/20 · 5,650 mmOct 28 9:43 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:28 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:38 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:46 PM · f/20 · 5,750 mmOct 28 10:50 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mmOct 28 10:55 PM · f/20 · 5,700 mm LEFT processing profileAutoStakkert 10% - rawRegiStax - exact baselineRegiStax - neutral ringsGold Mid gentleWarm Golden GlobeRicher Gold v2Original Subtle PearlSoft Globe lightSoft Globe mediumRicher Gold soft globePearl Plus whiter ringsWhite Rings strongWarm Golden white ringsSoft Globe white ringsPunchy Rings (no Topaz)Hybrid soft globe punchy ringsWarm / White Rings - gentle refined edgesWarm / White Rings - moderate refined edges RIGHT processing profileAutoStakkert 10% - rawRegiStax - exact baselineRegiStax - neutral ringsGold Mid gentleWarm Golden GlobeRicher Gold v2Original Subtle PearlSoft Globe lightSoft Globe mediumRicher Gold soft globePearl Plus whiter ringsWhite Rings strongWarm Golden white ringsSoft Globe white ringsPunchy Rings (no Topaz)Hybrid soft globe punchy ringsWarm / White Rings - gentle refined edgesWarm / White Rings - moderate refined edges

Sync profiles on both sides (optional apples-to-apples) Zoom 1x - full rings1.5x2x - globe detail Swap sides Reset 50/50

Oct 18 - 11:01 PM Oct 28 - 11:25 PM

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FireCapture reported: October 18 f/19 / 5,400 mm; October 28 f/20 / 5,650 mm. Values are estimates, not independently measured focal lengths.

50% LEFT / 50% RIGHT Copyable link to selected comparison

Open or save the selected images — full frame, not the slider crop

LEFT IMAGE · October 18

Open PNG Open JPEG 16-bit TIFF

RIGHT IMAGE · October 28

Open PNG Open JPEG 16-bit TIFF

PNG: lossless processed preview · JPEG: high-quality 8-bit sharing copy · TIFF: genuine 16-bit processing master (download if your browser cannot display it). All links update with the chosen capture and profile.

AutoStakkert 10%RegiStaxRegiStaxGold MidWarm Golden GlobeRicher Gold v2White Rings / Subtle Pearl

Identical AutoStakkert and RegiStax processing settings are available for apples-to-apples review.

Method: Unsharpened AutoStakkert 10% and exact RegiStax wavelets are the primary sharpness tests. Ring-neutral uses the same normalization method; Gold Mid, Warm Golden, Richer Gold and White Rings use the same finishing formulas on both dates, but are aesthetic choices. Chris Go-inspired coloring was rejected and is deliberately not a default. All images come from recorded Saturn frames; nothing is AI-generated.

Recorded imaging scale: Oct 18 11:01 PM: FireCapture f/19, 5,400 mm; Oct 28 11:25 PM: f/20, 5,650 mm. This information follows the selected capture in the slider. All of these numbers are reported estimates, not a ring-size calibrated measurement.

Eighteen processing choices

For objective sharpness, use the AutoStakkert or exact RegiStax baselines. For the finished look, try Pearl Plus, White Rings Strong, Soft Globe, Richer Gold, Hybrid, or the new gentle/medium White Rings refined-edge trials. The original Subtle Pearl was almost imperceptible.

Topaz clarification: the October 18 historical favorite was processed through genuine Topaz. The new October 28 variations are RegiStax-based and have not undergone a genuine Topaz Clear run. They are not Topaz equivalents.

The experimental animations have been retired from this main page. All source videos and image files remain preserved.

All profile sources | Processing formulas

The new white-ring refinements are ring-only, not Topaz, and are not substitutes for real atmospheric detail. See the edge/noise measurements.