![]() This diagram replicates the view in an inverting telescope such as a Newtonian reflector, or a refractor, Schmidt-Cassegrain, or Maksutov used without a star diagonal. ![]() Almost any kind of Jupiter observation requires familiarity with the correct names for the various belts and zones. We see their orbits almost exactly edge on. But he soon realized they were actually circling around Jupiter, forming a miniature solar system of sorts. These hide-and-seek movements confounded Galileo Galilei when he first spied these "stars" in 1610. That's because while orbiting Jupiter they sometimes glide in front of the planet, behind it, or through its shadow. The count often changes from night to night (or if you're patient, even from hour to hour). You'll probably see all four - but possibly only three depending on when you look. Jupiter and three of its four Galilean satellites, as they would appear in a small telescope.ĭepending on the size of your scope and the quality of the night's seeing, you'll see something like the view here. Focus carefully so that the planet's edge is as sharp as possible, let any vibrations settle down, and then take a good long look. Now put a low-power eyepiece in your telescope and center Jupiter. They only look tiny and faint because they're about 2,000 times farther away. Look closely to either side of Jupiter's disk - do you see a line of three or four tiny stars? Each of these is a satellite of Jupiter roughly the size of our own Moon. If your binoculars are good quality and magnify at least seven times (they'll be marked 7×35 or 7×50, for example), you'll see Jupiter as a tiny white disk. Jupiter was king of the gods in Roman mythology, and when it's high in the sky, it rules unchallenged as the brightest "star" in the sky.īefore you track down this planet with your telescope, grab your binoculars and find a tree or wall to brace against while pointing them toward Jupiter. And it's got four large moons that hover nearby like bright fireflies, forever shuttling back and forth around Jupiter's glaring globe. It's the only one that shows distinct features in even a fairly small scope. What makes Jupiter such a treat is that it offers more to see in a telescope than any other planet. Note the Great Red Spot, which overlaps the dark South Equatorial Belt below center.įor me, however, it's Jupiter. S&T imaging editor Sean Walker used a 12½-inch reflector to capture Jupiter on August 17, 2011, from Masil Observatory East in New Hampshire. Nothing compares to those wonderful rings. The fascination with the Red Planet as a possible abode of life goes back well over a century. If you’re stuck for ideas this is a good one.If it's Mars, you certainly have lots of company. I hope to find at least 2 of Messier’s objects per session. My current project is a slow Messier marathon. Also make a list of things you want to find for the night and record observations ect. If you haven’t already get Stellarium, a very useful piece of kit. I have also come to realise that planning is an essential part of astronomy. In my very, very old telescope (so old I can't remember the name or aperture) I also saw Saturn (EPIC). However, in my current telescope, I have been able to see, the Moon, the Ring Nebula (awesome), The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (a bright splodge), Andromeda (a fainter splodge), Brocchi's Cluster (made me chuckle), Albireo (a favourite), Orion Nebula and Jupiter. Then, winter came and so did the clouds, (above me anyway) cutting my off from my night time fix. For the first couple of months, I was really just getting used to the ins and outs of the scope, that and the fact I didn't really know where to begin, meant I saw very little. I received a Skywatcher 130 for my birthday about 6 months ago. ![]() I know this is an old thread but I'd thought I'd add my thoughts.
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