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Jupiter Watch

Post 1

Gnomon - time to move on

Tonight is national Jupiter Watch day. Astronomy Ireland, the biggest amateur astronomy society in the world, is organising a number of sites around the country with big telescopes where people can come and look at Jupiter, which is particularly bright in the south these evenings.

They're also encouraging people with small telescopes to organise a doorstep Jupiter watch. I'm busy doing something else this evening, so I'm doing the Jupiter watch tomorrow night (Saturday). I've invited all the neighbours - I put 70 flyers in the doors of everybody on my street except for the three who had the giant "NO JUNK MAIL" signs.

With my 100mm telescope, all we'll probably see is the bright spot of Jupiter and the four biggest moons, but if we're lucky it might be clear enough to see the stripes of the weather patterns. If Jupiter gets boring we can always look at a few other sights such as Albireo, a beautiful double star, or even the moon.


Jupiter Watch

Post 2

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

I didn't know about this, but I did gaze lovingly at Jupiter from my kitchen window last night, and again later in the cool night air, as I slipped out my French doors just before retiring for the night, for my nightly glance (which turns into a ten minute drool if the sky is clear). smiley - starsmiley - starsmiley - starThe stars were stunning, you had a good star-gazing nightsmiley - biggrin


Jupiter Watch

Post 3

Deek

I take a look at that most evenings, when it's clear. Despite being quite low to the horizon it's putting on a magnificent show at the moment.

You could also see if you can get Neptune, which is almost alongside at about 6 deg east along the ecliptic, and Uranus about 36 deg east. Both are more difficult but maybe worth a try.

If it's clear I'll be looking with you, at least in spirit if not in body.

smiley - okDeke.


Jupiter Watch

Post 4

TRiG (Ireland) A dog, so bade in office

I was up by the Papal Cross in Phoenix Park last night. Unfortunately, it was rather cloudy by the time my friends and I got there, and didn't seem inclined to clear, so we went back into the city to see a little more of Culture Night.

TRiG.smiley - planet


Jupiter Watch

Post 5

Gnomon - time to move on

My Jupiter watch was supposed to be from 9 to 11. At 9, it was completely overcast, but about half an hour later Jupiter peeped out through a hole in the clouds and we were able to see it and its moons. Unfortunately, my telescopes needs to be able to see three stars before it can track things automatically, and only Jupiter was visible. Nevertheless, the neighbours who turned up were impressed with seeing the Galilean moons. Eventually about 10:00, it disappeared back into the clouds so I packed up and brought the telescope in.

At 10:35, the doorbell rang. More neighbours - the sky had now completely cleared, so I brought the telescope out and soon was able to show them a very good view of Jupiter and its moons, although it wasn't clear enough to see any of the cloud formations on the planet. Then I found Albireo, a striking double star and showed them that too, although some of the neighbours didn't have good enough eyesight to see the dimmer of the two stars.

There wasn't much else that could be seen in the glare of the streetlights, so we called it a night at 11:15. One of the neighbours kindly donated a bottle of wine to thank me for my trouble, and I'm drinking a glass now as I type.


Jupiter Watch

Post 6

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

smiley - redwine

You'll be a legend in that street soon.


Jupiter Watch

Post 7

Recumbentman

If not legless smiley - redwine


Jupiter Watch

Post 8

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

smiley - biggrin


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