Planet Jupiter

Author
Discussion

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

123,936 posts

280 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
I know it's not a Boat or a Plane or a Train but where else do I post this?

Has anyone been looking at Jupiter the past few evenings? It is currently very bright in the southern sky and, through decent binoculars, the four Galilean moons are easily visible as they shuttle backwords and forwards across and behind the planet.


AshVX220

5,951 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I know it's not a Boat or a Plane or a Train but where else do I post this?

Has anyone been looking at Jupiter the past few evenings? It is currently very bright in the southern sky and, through decent binoculars, the four Galilean moons are easily visible as they shuttle backwords and forwards across and behind the planet.
Hi Eric,
I've been looking at Jupiter for a couple of weeks now, initially thought it might be Mars. It's impressive to see the moons, I remember looking at Saturn a few years ago through a telescope and see the rings quite clearly.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

123,936 posts

280 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Because Jupiter is absolutely level with us at the moment, the moons are occulting and eclipsing each other as they cross our field of view. They are also casting shadows on each other. My binoculars are not good enough to show this type of detail but anyone with a decent telescope should be watching out for all this activity.

Last night, all four moons were lined up on the left hand side of the planet. The night before last there two on one side and two on the other.

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 19th August 08:53

AshVX220

5,951 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
It would be good to see the shadow's particularly if the shadow's are from objects you can't see. I think I need a decent Telescope!

russ_a

4,705 posts

226 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
The first time I used my telescope to view Jupiter I thought the four moons were a fault with the optics!

[edited quick typing]

Edited by russ_a on Thursday 20th August 12:32

SamHH

5,062 posts

231 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Is there not an unusual dark spot on Jupiter at the moment? I saw it on the TV a week or two ago. Has anything happened to it and has anyone worked out what it is?

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

123,936 posts

280 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
This was discussed on PH when it was "News" a few weeks ago (God only know what forum the discussion took place on).

I reckon the "scar" will have faded by now.

SeeFive

8,353 posts

248 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
I have had a look through my 6" cass/newt reflector a couple of times over the last week. Indeed, it is very bright and the moons are incredibly clear. It seems to be a bit lower in the sky the last couple of evenings, so there is a little more atmospheric distortion on high magnification.

I have also made the fatal mistake of cleaning my mirrors and plossy / barlow optics, and have obviously not done it properly, so it is not as clear to me as it was a couple of weeks ago, but the red blotch was not visible at that time - just the stripes.

Better get my cleaning and setting gear out again... and make sure that the wife has not used Pledge on the cloths this time!

Russ35

2,596 posts

254 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
What sort of view will I get with 15*70 binoculars?

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

263 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Russ35 said:
What sort of view will I get with 15*70 binoculars?
A shakey one.


Russ35

2,596 posts

254 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
IanMorewood said:
Russ35 said:
What sort of view will I get with 15*70 binoculars?
A shakey one.
That are attached to a tripod, but looking at the sky at the minute, all I'll be seeing tonight is clouds.


central

16,745 posts

232 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Showing well through my 30x terrestrial scope smile

Mojocvh

16,837 posts

277 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Because Jupiter is absolutely level with us at the moment, the moons are occulting and eclipsing each other as they cross our field of view. They are also casting shadows on each other. My binoculars are not good enough to show this type of detail but anyone with a decent telescope should be watching out for all this activity.

Last night, all four moons were lined up on the left hand side of the planet. The night before last there two on one side and two on the other.

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 19th August 08:53
Eric,

http://astro.christone.net/jupiter/index.htm

and scroll down to 16th August!

Mo.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

263 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
First clear night weve had for ages round here and I just cant be bothered to unload the car enough to take my big reflector anywhere dark enough to do it justice.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

123,936 posts

280 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
quotequote all
Mojocvh said:
Eric Mc said:
Because Jupiter is absolutely level with us at the moment, the moons are occulting and eclipsing each other as they cross our field of view. They are also casting shadows on each other. My binoculars are not good enough to show this type of detail but anyone with a decent telescope should be watching out for all this activity.

Last night, all four moons were lined up on the left hand side of the planet. The night before last there two on one side and two on the other.

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 19th August 08:53
Eric,

http://astro.christone.net/jupiter/index.htm

and scroll down to 16th August!

Mo.
Great find. That is very impressive stuff.

russ_a

4,705 posts

226 months

Sunday 23rd August 2009
quotequote all
Some great pictures on that site!

I couldn't get my camera to work on Friday night. Not sure if it's broken or I have just forgotten how to use it.

Seeing was pretty hazy but you could easily make out the two bands and see three of the moons orbiting

NicoG

658 posts

223 months

Friday 28th August 2009
quotequote all
SamHH said:
Is there not an unusual dark spot on Jupiter at the moment? I saw it on the TV a week or two ago. Has anything happened to it and has anyone worked out what it is?
That's its arse hole - Earth has got one too, it's called Bognor...

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

123,936 posts

280 months

Friday 28th August 2009
quotequote all
The solar system has one as well - Uranus

(Totally predictable, I know)

dr_gn

16,565 posts

199 months

Friday 28th August 2009
quotequote all
NicoG said:
SamHH said:
Is there not an unusual dark spot on Jupiter at the moment? I saw it on the TV a week or two ago. Has anything happened to it and has anyone worked out what it is?
That's its arse hole - Earth has got one too, it's called Bognor...
There's got to be a "your anus" gag in there somewhere...

dr_gn

16,565 posts

199 months

Friday 28th August 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
The solar system has one as well - Uranus

(Totally predictable, I know)
Dammit.