Jupiter

Jupiter, is by far the largest planet in the Solar System, binding a family of 63 moons/moonlets (1/5/2006 NASA) to its orbit. Of those, 4 are the size of small planets and are called the Galilean Moons; Io, Europa, Callisto and Ganymede and can easily be seen in small telescopes. A further 25 are un-named and are probably captured asteroids.

Jupiter Facts

Average Distance from the Sun: 778,412,020 km / 483,682,810 miles / 5.20336 A.U.

Equatorial Radius: 71,492 km / 44,423 miles

Equatorial Circumference: 449,197 km / 279,118 miles

Being the largest planet it is relatively easy to image. But the all important sky conditions will, to some extent dictate the outcome of those images. Below are images that I have captured using my own 8" SCT and the 14" SCT at the Doncaster AS Observatory.

All images are a combination of stacked avi-frames from the webcam using Registax and image processing in Photoshop (when required).

2004/01/25 01:30UT
Seeing: 7/10
Scope: 8" Meade SCT @f15
Webcam: Philips Toucam Pro
AVI-frames: 768 Resolution: 352x288 pixels
Location: Backyard, Cantley
RA: 11h18.4m Dec: +05°54'
Altitude: +38°25' Azimuth: 148°26'
Distance from Earth: 4.6au Mag: -2.3
Apparent Angular size: 42"

For a first attempt, I am pleased with the end result. Easily seen is the Great Red Spot (GRS) in the Southern Equatorial Belt (SEB). Other atmospheric details such as the NEB, the Temperate zones and Polar regions are well defined.

2005/06/10 22:54UT
Seeing: 5/10 Moderate
Scope: 14" Meade SCT @f10
Webcam: Philips Toucam Pro
AVI-frames: 347 Resolution: 352x288 pixels
Location: Doncaster AS Observatory
RA: 12h34m54s Dec: -02°14'48"
Altitude: +25°52' Azimuth: 223°12'
Distance from Earth: 5.0au Mag: -2.2
Apparent angular size: 39.1"

The EQ-Belts and Polar Regions are shown on the image. The GRS has yet to rotate onto the disk. Note the contrasting colour tones of the EQ-Belts. The moon Io is located to the upper-right(west) just off the image.North is upper-left.

2006/05/03 23:14UT
Seeing: 4/10 Poor
Scope: 14" Meade SCT @f10
Webcam: Philips Toucam Pro
AVI-frames: 562 Resolution: 352x288 pixels
Location: Doncaster AS Observatory
RA: 14h48m Dec: 14°47'
Altitude: +21°05' Azimuth: 168°51'
Distance from Earth: 4.4au Mag: -2.3
Apparent angular size: 44.7"

Jupiter does not attain a respectable altitude during this season from this latitude (+53°). Thus, unless the local Seeing is exceptional it does not present a sharp image. In this first of a sequence of two images, the largest Jovian Moon, Ganymede (mag +4.8) is situated 21" from the eastern limb of the planet. North is top-left and East is lower-left.

2006/05/04 00:46UT
Seeing:4/10 Poor
Scope: 14" Meade SCT @f10
Webcam: Philips Toucam Pro
AVI-frames: 649 Resolution: 352x288 pixels
Location: Doncaster AS Observatory
RA: 14h48m Dec: 14°47'
Altitude:+20°54' Azimuth: 192°45'
Distance from Earth: 4.4au Mag: -2.3
Apparent angular size: 44.7"

In this second of a sequence of two images, the largest Jovian Moon, Ganymede (mag +4.8) has noticably moved closer towards what would be a transit of the planet and is situated 5" from the eastern limb of Jupiter.Unfortunately, cloud cover soon after this image was recorded, obscured the transit event! North is top-left and East is lower-left.

Updated 10/5/2006