Solar
& Planetary LtE Now in May 2026
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¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars 31 May 0602UT R610LP
RGB
Received: 1 June 2026,
10:19 JST
I really like the tiny SPC seen in the red image, while the
green image, though less sharp, appears to show haze over the SPC. This may be
the earliest view of the SPH, which begins to form about now (in early southern
autumn).
-- Roger
Roger VENABLE (
¤••••• Subject: Mars 31 May 0602UT R610LP
RGB
Received:
Hi all,
I came close to aborting the session this morning with
seeing deteriorating badly towards sunrise. But, as with yesterday, I found a
marked improvement about half an hour after sunrise.
The view is again looking down onto the Hesperia region.
Elysium is to the lower left and Syrtis major on the
limb at right.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Venus
2026-05-30 UT
Received:
Venus images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-30 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 30 May 0602UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Hi all,
I had to be patient to catch the RGB well after sunrise this
morning. Although there were periods of bad seeing, there were also periods of
reasonable seeing, given the substantial Jetstream
overhead.
The G and B data is slowly getting a bit better.
Looking down on Hesperia.
I again noted the lightness in the NPR region, and
Best regards, Clyde
¤••••• Subject: Mars 29 May 0527UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
I had limited time this morning, and only managed a few
usable R610LP captures.
Jetstream conditions. Centred on M Tyrrhenum.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars May 0548UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Yes, I think that the edge of the North Polar Hood is
evident.
Northern winter starts in about a week.
-- Roger
Roger VENABLE (Chester, GA )
¤••••• Subject: Mars 28 May 0548UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Hi all,
Seeing conditions varied substantially with some good
periods.
Unfortunately the B data was captured during unstable
conditions.
View is again centred on the Syrtis
Minor/M Tyrrhenum region.
Syrtis Major
is at lower right, with Hesperia and M Cimmerium at
centre left.
I am wondering if there is not some lightness in the NPR at
bottom.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-27 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 27 May 0526UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Hi all,
Unstable conditions around sunrise this morning.
Syrtis Major
to the lower right of centre with
M Tyrrhenum and Syrtis Minor are central with Hesperia centre left. Ausonia is at upper left
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-26 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 25 May 0546UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Hi all,
I attempted another RGB on May 25.
The B remains a challenge around sunrise, and it will still
be a while before Mars attains a reasonable altitude.
Syrtis Major and
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Mars 26 May 0546UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
Mars this morning. I had to
keep the session short as we had visitors leaving.
Looking down on Syrtis
Major,
Some brightness in northern
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn 2026-05-25
UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-25 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Ｖｅｎｕｓ 2026-05-25 UT
Received:
Venus images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 24 May 0514UT
R610LP RGB
Received: 24 May 2026,
18:34 JST
Hi all,
I really didn’t think the conditions this morning warranted
an attempt at RGB, but it was such a beautiful morning, I captured what I
could!
Looking down on
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-23 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-21 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Ｖｅｎｕｓ 2026-05-21 UT
Received:
Venus images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 23 May
0530UT R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
After reasonable conditions for Saturn, there was a marked
deterioration as I dropped down in altitude to Mars. Only limited captures were
usable as the sun rose.
A first proper view of Syrtis Major and
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-20 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 19 May 0530UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
Conditions were noticeably poorer this morning after unseasonal cloud and even a few drops of rain yesterday. Jetstream had also picked up.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Ｖｅｎｕｓ 2026-05-17 UT
Received:
Venus images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-17 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-17 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-15 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 17 May 0514UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
I found unexpected cloud moving in this morning, and only
managed 3 usable captures.
OxiaPalus/Indus
again shows as quite diffuse.
Niliacus L is
to the lower right with
Pandorae Fretum is visible upper left of centre with M Erythraeum to the upper right of centre.
Argyre I is lightish at upper right.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars 16 May 0530UT
R610LP
Received:
Thanks so much for your persistence in imaging Mars!
There are fine features visible in your image that you
haven't mentioned. It shows
-- Roger
Roger VENABLE (
¤••••• Subject: Mars 16 May 0530UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
Some periods of reasonable seeing after sunrise this
morning, although conditions disintegrated as I was capturing G’s for the RGB,
preventing any RGB.
View is centred on Margaritifer
Sinus.
Mare Erythraeum extends above
centre towards the right, with Sinus Sabaeus, Sinus Meridiani and Pandorae Fretum visible near the terminator at left.
Niliacus Lacus
is at bottom, and there may be a hint of a darkish spot near Oxia.
Argyre I is at upper centre.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-15 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 15 May 0543UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
I had to wait until after sunrise before I found a short
period of improved seeing.
The view is centred on the region between Margaritifer Sinus and Aurorae
Sinus.
Solis Lacus is towards the upper right limb.
Niliacus Lacus
is across the bottom, with the light Chryse above it.
Sinus Meridiani is on the
terminator at centre left.
There is some lightness in the Argyre
I region at upper centre/left.
Hoping that I can include RGB as soon
as conditions are suitable.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-14 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-14 UT
Received:
Saturn images on 14 May 2026.
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 13 May 0516UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
Rapidly varying conditions this morning and I had to be
patient to catch a reasonable patch. But not stable enough for RGB.
View is again centred near Aurorae
Sinus, with M Erythraeum extending above it to the
left and Solis L to the upper right. Argyre I is
below the SPC
Niliacus Lacus
and Nilokeras extend across the bottom
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Mars 12 May 0520UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
Unstable sunrise conditions this
morning with limited usable data, and not good enough for RGB.
View is centred on the Aurorae
Sinus region with Valles Marineris
extending towards the right of centre, and Solis Lacus just to the upper right
of centre.
Mare Erythraeum is towards upper
left, with Argyre I above it.
Niliacus Lacus
and Nilokeras may just be made out at lower left.
Maybe a hint of Ceraeis
Portus above Solis L.?
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Ｖｅｎｕｓ 2026-05-11 UT
Received:
Vennus images
on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-09 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-09 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Re: Mars 7 May 0541UT
R610LP
Received:
Thanks for the fine image,
As you know, one of the classical ways to identify dust
versus albedo features is to use color filters,
through which a dust cloud will usually darken more than a normal albedo feature will. Maybe green and blue filters are
impractical in daytime imaging. Still, it would be interesting to see.
-- Roger
Roger VENABLE (
¤••••• Subject: Mars 8 May 0459UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
Conditions again deteriorated towards sunrise this morning,
and I only had limited usable data.
Solis Lacus is upper left of centre with Valles
Marineris extending in from centre left.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Mars 7 May 0541UT
R610LP
Received:
Hi all,
After a reasonable Saturn session
conditions deteriorated badly towards sunrise.
I did find an improvement about 30mins after sunrise.
Features I can note:
a. M Sirenum to the right.
b. Small
SPC at the top
c. Aonius S
above centre
d. Silis Lacus upper left of centre
e. There is a hint of Valles Marineris at centre left
f. I note the brightness on the limb at upper right, which
may be an indication of some dust activity?
g. The arc at lower right may be edge artefact.
Best regards,
¤••••• Subject: Saturn
2026-05-05 UT
Received:
Saturn images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-04 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter 2026-05-03
UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter with
three moons (May 1st)
Received:
Hi all,
Here is an image (and drawing!) from May 1st. Some very good
seeing despite the small angular size and dropping altitude. Its
interesting how the GRS hollow shape has changed over the past couple of months
becoming much wide and more 'eye-like.'
Image: http://www.damianpeach.com/jup25/2026-05-01-1930_3-RGBdp.jpg
Drawing: http://www.damianpeach.com/jup25/2026-05-01-2006_0-DP_DWG.jpg
This is likely my final image of this apparition as the
planet is now getting low in the evening twilight.
After 52 nights of imaging and my 28th straight apparition
imaging the planet it was a great note to end on!
Best wishes,
Damian PEACH (Selsey, WS,
the
Web: http://www.damianpeach.com/
¤••••• Subject: Jupiter
2026-05-02 UT
Received:
Jupiter images on
Best regards,
Tomio AKUTSU (
Akutsu Cebu Observarory
¤••••• Subject: Mars 3 May 0526UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Hi all,
After a short period of good seeing on Saturn this morning, things
deteriorated quickly, and badly, towards sunrise.
Resorting to the trusty R610LP allowed me to at least
salvage something from the session.
M. Sirenum is above centre, with
the small SPC at top.
I think it is Aonius Sinus that is
just visible on the left limb. Amazonis extends below
centre, with Tharsis coming into view at centre/lower
left.
Thyle I, Palinuri Fr and Phaethontis are
the regions between the SPC and M Sirenum.
Best regards, Clyde
¤••••• Subject: Mars 2 May 0522UT
R610LP RGB
Received:
Hi all,
As with Saturn, some improved conditions this morning
tempted me into attempting another Mars RGB.
Mare Sirenum is just above centre,
with M Cimmerium to its right.
The lower part of the planet is dominated by Amazonis.
Best regards,