Moons Jupiter

[buzzlightyear]

Got my new 25mm bst eyepiece today and had a go. Now this time I looked at Jupiter I seen 8 but was sure it was 9 moons but I'll give benefit of doubt on 1. On my other EP I only got 4 moons so asking is this normal?

Thanks

[John]

Jupiter has 4 moons that are bright enough to be seen with the sort of scopes most of us have. Quite frequently there are background stars around which can look like extra moons though.

[knobby]

The moons are in different positions at different times, so it sounds normal .

Some of those moons would have been stars though.

How was the overall view with the bst ? I had the 15 mm and loved it .

[Astro Imp]

With whatever eyepiece you use you will only ever see 4 moons, the rest are nearby stars.

You can see which moon is which here:- http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/javascript/jupiter#

[Astro Imp]

You beat me to it knobby, my typing skills need to improve!!!

[knobby]

What I lack in quality, I make up for in speed ;-)

[buzzlightyear]

Well looked like all were moons so I'll count em lol but the bst was lots better than the standard EP that came with the scope by miles...love it

[buzzlightyear]

Anyway the new EP is seeing more than the standard so worth the cash.

[CozyScaley]

Managed a couple of hours with my new arrival; a Celestron 32mm. Really good view of Jupiter and it's moons.

[buzzlightyear]

Was one very close to the left edge?

[John]

Was one very close to the left edge?

The applet that Alan posted a link to above (this one):

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/javascript/jupiter#

Will show you which moon was which and which one, or it's shadow, is about to transit Jupiter. It's very useful for planning observing or working out what you have seen.

After the 4 bright moons (known as the Galilean Moons) the next brightest are magnitude 14 so would need at least a 12" scope and a very dark night to even glimpse them.

[buzzlightyear]

Ok ok I got ahead of myself lol but it looked ace