Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

Unmanned Spaceflight.com _ Chit Chat _ The Moon and Jupiter get close...

Posted by: Stu Aug 26 2010, 10:29 PM

Very nice conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter visible tonight... Putting the miserable memories of the 2010 NLC season behind me I hiked up to Kendal Castle again, and it was definitely worth it...

And with the Kepler FOV almost overhead, and the ISS gliding across a third of the sky, it was quite a memorable half hour...

Posted by: volcanopele Aug 26 2010, 10:34 PM

No telescope I'm afraid. But I will definitely be looking up for it.

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 26 2010, 11:01 PM

Even my wife decided to come and have a look at Jupiter and the Moon together last night.
Jupiter was really brilliantly bright. A cold evening with some high fast moving clouds.

Posted by: ilbasso Aug 27 2010, 04:02 AM

I tried to get a good photo of the Moon and Jupiter tonight. I was ultimately unsuccessful in taking a satisfying one, because of the difference in relative brightness of the two objects.

What surprised me, however, was that with my camera and 200mm zoom lens, I was able to capture all four of the Galilean satellites - with a hand-held half-second exposure!

(For those wishing to verify the satellites, this was at 0307 UT on 2010 Aug 27.)

Posted by: bkellysky Aug 28 2010, 07:00 PM

QUOTE

I tried to get a good photo of the Moon and Jupiter tonight. I was ultimately unsuccessful in taking a satisfying one, because of the difference in relative brightness of the two objects.
What surprised me, however, was that with my camera and 200mm zoom lens, I was able to capture all four of the Galilean satellites - with a hand-held half-second exposure!
(For those wishing to verify the satellites, this was at 0307 UT on 2010 Aug 27.)

Nice catch with the 200 mm lens!
I was out that same evening (about an hour before your photo) with my IS 8x25 binoculars and Jupiter's moons looked like sparkles on the water extending from the planet. Our Moon was wonderful, too, with several large craters prominent on the sunset line.
With Earth making a closer pass past Jupiter this upcoming month, it's a good time to encourage people to check out Jupiter and his moons with any optical aid they have. Since we're a little closer, the moons appear further from the planet, getting them out of the glare from Jupiter more often and making them easier to see.
If anyone is unimpressed, ask them how many people have a photo of Jupiter's moons they took themselves! You are in a select club - but it's a club more can join, following your example.
all the best,
bob
bkellysky.wordpress.com