Jupiter Last Night - An Extra Satellite?

[Neon]

I had my best view of Jupiter last night. The seeing conditions were pretty good from my location, but there was something strange that I couldn't identify. Here's what I could see:

Anyone know what the object in the green circle would be?

Thanks

Mark

[Albireo380]

I had a look on "Starry Night" software. I think what you saw was a star HIP93649, magnitude 6.7

Regards

Tom

[Neon]

Cheers Tom,

I thought it must be something like that, but the magnitude of the object was virtually the same as Jupiters' moons and it didn't change position throughout the night, forming a rough equilateral triangle.

Just thought it look a little odd and wondered if anyone else might have caught a glimpse.

[lunator]

Neon

It quite amazing to think that from our perspective that a star several 10's of light years away looks the same as a small moon in the Solar System

Cheers

Ian

[Sfarndell]

Hi Mark

I saw it last night as well. It looked very simliar to an event last year when asteroid Vesta transited Jupiter at roughly the same angle.

Stellarium didn't really identify it.

Thanks Tom for the info

Scott

[Albireo380]

Glad to oblige - "Starry Night" is a great softpackage - the "Enthusiast"version is frequently given away free with S@N magazine. So keep your eyes peeled and you may pick it up for free

Tom

[PhillyDee]

Yeah, my first look at jupiter and I saw 5 moons . . . But the other 'moon' was twice the distance of the furthest one and I wasnt altogether certain it was. Needless to say, it was still in the same position the next night, and the night after that. It was a star. (But you lot already knew that . . . )