What is Jupiter like right now?

[Canter_Zac13]

I want to view Jupiter through my new telescope but, it's not visible in my area until like 1 A.M. I don't want to get up and get all set up then look at Jupiter and not see the red spot or any of its moons. Does anybody know what Jupiter will look like tonight? Thanks?

[Knighty2112]

Not sure where you are, but the shadow or Europa starts across Jupiter at 1:05am UK time. GRS starts showing from just gone 3am, and then the transit of Europa starts at approx 3:30am until just before 6am. 

[Canter_Zac13]

Im in the eastern time zone in the US

 

[johnfosteruk]

https://www.calsky.com/?Jupiter=&sub=8 will give you GRS transit times and https://www.calsky.com/cs.cgi/Planets/6/6?obs=51945361106573 will give you the Jovian moons transits

Just sign up for a free account and tell it where you're located.

 

HTH

[Dave In Vermont]

Here's a neat little stand-alone guide to Jupiter that you set to your local-time and place, and it will show you where the 4 major Moons are around the planet - as well as the current location of the Great Red-Spot (GRS). Or for anytime you set it to. Free, of course:

http://astrosurf.com/rondi/jupiter/

Enjoy!

Dave

[timwetherell]

In the UK it's on the meridian (at its highest) just before dawn at the moment, presumably it's similar in the US. I was observing it 6am a few days ago and it was stunning! Right now, it's best to get up early than stay up late because it will be higher in the sky and the atmosphere makes more difference than anything else  This was my sketch through a 7" scope

[Stu]

21 minutes ago, timwetherell said:

In the UK it's on the meridian (at its highest) just before dawn at the moment, presumably it's similar in the US. I was observing it 6am a few days ago and it was stunning! Right now, it's best to get up early than stay up late because it will be higher in the sky and the atmosphere makes more difference than anything else  This was my sketch through a 7" scope

Wonderful sketch Tim! 7" refractor presumably?

[timwetherell]

36 minutes ago, Stu said:

Wonderful sketch Tim! 7" refractor presumably?

Thanks Stu, yes indeed, 7" refractor. Though I rekon a 180 Mak or a good long focus 8" Newtonian would have done a similar job

[Lorne]

Jupiter is one of the most dynamic objects to look at, always changing from nigh to night (unlikely assumption that we get 2 clear nights in a row!!!)

[RayD]

On 03/01/2017 at 19:10, Knighty2112 said:

Not sure where you are, but the shadow or Europa starts across Jupiter at 1:05am UK time. GRS starts showing from just gone 3am, and then the transit of Europa starts at approx 3:30am until just before 6am. 

That's great information.  Is that just experience or was this from a reference source as I'd love to have access to info like this.

 

Edit:  Just seen Dave in Vermont's post.  Thanks.

[RayD]

On 04/01/2017 at 01:51, Dave In Vermont said:

Here's a neat little stand-alone guide to Jupiter that you set to your local-time and place, and it will show you where the 4 major Moons are around the planet - as well as the current location of the Great Red-Spot (GRS). Or for anytime you set it to. Free, of course:

http://astrosurf.com/rondi/jupiter/

Enjoy!

Dave

That's brilliant.  Thanks for that link Dave 

[Stu]

21 minutes ago, RayD said:

That's great information.  Is that just experience or was this from a reference source as I'd love to have access to info like this.

 

Edit:  Just seen Dave in Vermont's post.  Thanks.

I use SkySafari for this, gives great info both graphically and in the info section. Tapping the clock on the right of each event takes you directly to it in the planetarium.

[RayD]

That's excellent thanks Stu.  I hadn't even given it a thought to use it like this.  

[RayD]

47 minutes ago, Stu said:

I use SkySafari for this, gives great info both graphically and in the info section. Tapping the clock on the right of each event takes you directly to it in the planetarium.

Which version is this Stu?  I'm on Android and there is Skysfari 5 @ £2.79 and 5 Plus @ £14.49.  Both by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Thanks

[RayD]

Ok I think I found it, the pro version @ £37 

[Knighty2112]

Skysafari just did 50% off offer in December. They seem to do them quite often too, so if you can hold out a little it might save you a little money. You could of course buy the basic Skysafari 5 at £2.29, which most likely will show the changes on Jupiter too, then upgrade to Skysafari 5Plus when it is on 50% off offer.  

[spaceboy]

On ‎03‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 18:38, Canter_Zac13 said:

I want to view Jupiter through my new telescope but, it's not visible in my area until like 1 A.M. I don't want to get up and get all set up then look at Jupiter and not see the red spot or any of its moons. Does anybody know what Jupiter will look like tonight? Thanks?

I have to ask this. What scope do you have? It is possible to see the GRS and it becomes easily identifiable with good seeing conditions but it still takes a little skill to pick it out with scopes of 80mm or less.

[Canter_Zac13]

I have an Orion XT8 PLUS which has an 8-inch aperture and 1200mm focal length.