Jupiter & Venus captured

Just did a check for the GRS on the Sky and Telescope GRS calculator.
www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/object....html?page=1&c=y
From inputting in 07/07/2007, the GRS transited at 11:45pm, which is what your image shows Dave. So, yes, it is the GRS.
I would have thought that software like Starry Night Pro would calculate the GRS correctly??

Well, just finshed observing. It's 4:20am now and it's well and truly bright outside. Moon with binoviewers was magical! Incredible detail! Also got a peek at Mars. Veerrry small disc. Thought I got fleeting glimpses of a small ice cap and a dark region on the disc. Showing a phase of about 70-80% at the mo. Night finished off perfectly when I accidently saw an Iridium flare near the Moon as I was locking up the observatory. Great night!

Dave,
I spotted that region too. It's not the GRS - just checked Starry Night Pro.

Well Mike,
Looking at the comparisons in the 2 sets of images above showing
the different times it looks like Starry Night is not very accurate.

I checked Stellarium and a few more web based transit calculators and they
all have the GRS positioned (about another width of the GRS) to the right of
where it is in reality.


Dave,
It's a pity you don't get more of an opportunity time wise to image Jupiter.
That last pic is outstanding. The detail you got is amazing considering the
altitude and weather.
It would be great to see this region develop over time in that kind of detail.


The next good transit of the GRS is Tuesday night starting about 10:30 and ending about 1:30 (hint hint! )

BTW, Did you get a chance to observe the new cloud formations through the obsessionator?

Mike,
Sounds like a great night! and after such crappy weather too.
I faded at 2am. The clouds came rolling in anyway.
Was Mars not washed out a lot by the Dawn?
I was tempted again to stay up but I'm holding out untill later in the year
when it rises earlier and gets higher.
You saw a polar cap? Awesome!

I was tempted again to stay up but I'm holding out untill later in the year
when it rises earlier and gets higher.
You saw a polar cap? Awesome!

Mas is plenty brignht enough to see against a darkish enough sky. I was lookinmg at it at around 3:00 to 3:20am.
As for the polar cap: that will become much more visible as mars comes closer. You shouodn't have any bother seeing it in a few months. However, don't wait too long either as it can shrink with the onset of the Martian summer. Best to keep an eye out for it as soon as possible. This i s an old image I took of it a few years ago with an 8":




Here's a more recent image by someone who knows what they are doing:

Nice one Mike.
I'd better get a look at it now so as it's goin to get smaller.
It's odd that something so obviously bright and red in the sky is so
small in a scope.
Still, I'm looking forward to actually seeing it for the first time.

I was going to stay up and have a look at Mars, but that 6 arc second disk just wasn't enticing enough for me.
I also noticed the time error of the GRS in starry night, in the past it has been fairly accurate so maybe the belts have changed speed or something.

The white area around the GRS is remarkable, you're so used to seeing Jupiter as a semi repetitive object, its fantastic to see a change.

So, a good deal of the south equatorial belt has vanished into the south tropical zone, I wonder did the passing white oval last year have anything to do with this.
Just so you know what belts/zones are there, have a look at
www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/jupiter/...ge.html&edu=high

Heres the orig pic more zoomed for detail (also more grainy)

farm2.static.flickr.com/1037/752613697_3b4c8add63_o.jpg

and here's one with Ganymede just on the edge


farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/752613953_b0e369a85f_o.jpg


I didn't get a chance to see it with the obsessionator as I just didn't have the time to get it with both scopes, I've only got about 45 mins and the dob would have even less due to the low position of its mirror.

Dave (hope you don't mind me using your image here)
(BTW, it looks a smiley face!)

no problem.

(BTW, it looks a smiley face!)

Dawn said the exact same thing when she saw it on the screen. :lol: :lol: