Jupiter Through My Telescope
Jumping Jupiter
Photographed through my telescope. Hundreds of video images stacked and processed with software to exhibit details.
Equipment: Meade LX-90 telescope, Philips ToUcam 640x480 webcam, 26mm lens, camera adapter, Registax software, Photoshop Elements.
About Jupiter....
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, more than 11 times the size of Earth. It is over 483 million miles from the sun and takes 12 years to complete its orbit around the sun.
Although Jupiter is far away, it is a relatively easy target to find and observe with a telescope. It is visible for five months at a time. Then for three months it slips behind the sun and it cannot be seen at all.
Because Jupiter is a fast-spinning planet if you observe it carefully through a telescope for several hours you may see the atmosphere change during the viewing session.
However, you can't see Jupiter's surface. That's because Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium and is impossible to see through.
What you can see, through a medium- to large-aperture scope is a huge atmospheric storm that has been raging on Jupiter's surface for hundreds or even thousands of years.
This giant storm appears as a massive red spot on the globe.
This storm is so large that two Earths could fit in it. If you look closely at the photo accompanying this you will see the spot in the lower left corner.
Other worthwhile targets for amateur astronomers are Jupiter's moons.
Jupiter has 16 moons. When the planet is visible you may see one or more of Jupiter's four largest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. The others are too small to be seen without a large astronomical instrument.
Some people with very good eyesight claim they can see Jupiter's largest moons with their naked eyes. However, most of us need a telescope.
Photograph was shot with a webcam attached to the eyepiece of my Meade telescope. hundreds of webcam images were "stacked" in a computer program to enhance details.
June 11, 2016 - Showed my young neighbor Joseph Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the Moon last night (he is around 12). This was the first time he ever observed Jupiter, Mars or Saturn through a scope. I showed him the moon on other occasions. His funniest comment was when he looked at the bands on Jupiter. his comment was, "It looks like bacon."
copyright - Mark Mathosian
Jupiter Through My Telescope
Jumping Jupiter
Photographed through my telescope. Hundreds of video images stacked and processed with software to exhibit details.
Equipment: Meade LX-90 telescope, Philips ToUcam 640x480 webcam, 26mm lens, camera adapter, Registax software, Photoshop Elements.
About Jupiter....
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, more than 11 times the size of Earth. It is over 483 million miles from the sun and takes 12 years to complete its orbit around the sun.
Although Jupiter is far away, it is a relatively easy target to find and observe with a telescope. It is visible for five months at a time. Then for three months it slips behind the sun and it cannot be seen at all.
Because Jupiter is a fast-spinning planet if you observe it carefully through a telescope for several hours you may see the atmosphere change during the viewing session.
However, you can't see Jupiter's surface. That's because Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium and is impossible to see through.
What you can see, through a medium- to large-aperture scope is a huge atmospheric storm that has been raging on Jupiter's surface for hundreds or even thousands of years.
This giant storm appears as a massive red spot on the globe.
This storm is so large that two Earths could fit in it. If you look closely at the photo accompanying this you will see the spot in the lower left corner.
Other worthwhile targets for amateur astronomers are Jupiter's moons.
Jupiter has 16 moons. When the planet is visible you may see one or more of Jupiter's four largest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. The others are too small to be seen without a large astronomical instrument.
Some people with very good eyesight claim they can see Jupiter's largest moons with their naked eyes. However, most of us need a telescope.
Photograph was shot with a webcam attached to the eyepiece of my Meade telescope. hundreds of webcam images were "stacked" in a computer program to enhance details.
June 11, 2016 - Showed my young neighbor Joseph Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the Moon last night (he is around 12). This was the first time he ever observed Jupiter, Mars or Saturn through a scope. I showed him the moon on other occasions. His funniest comment was when he looked at the bands on Jupiter. his comment was, "It looks like bacon."
copyright - Mark Mathosian