I had a quick look at Jupiter at the SDAS observing session up at Ballyremon Commons on Saturday the 20th at about 10.30pm. The view held up very well in my 8mm @ 187x with the 4 Galilean moons showing as discs, the N&S equatorial bands visible and even fleeting glimpses of the GRS near the limb. I didn't give much thought to its altitude because it was hard to judge with the open horizon up at Ballyremon Commons with the visual cues I am used to from my back garden absent.
Well I just checked Starry Night Pro and at that time on the 20th the GRS was indeed where I thought I saw it on the disc and............Jupiter was at 8° !!! There must have been some kind of laminer flow of air up at that plateau that night. I didn't think the kind of view I got was possible with the planet at such a low altitude.
I cannot wait for 2010-> when Jupiter gets above 30° Just imagine what I will see then!!
Keith D.
16" Meade Lightbridge Truss Dobsonian with Servocat Tracking/GOTO
Ethos 3.7sx,6,8,10,13,17,21mm
Nagler 31mm
