Quick questions about jupiter

[Manok101]

So as I was looking at Jupiter for the brief period that I had a clear sky tonight, there were 4 dots of light, three very close, one farther out. Were those jupiters moons? Also every so often I would see a bright flash, and was wondering if that was the telescope or something else passing by overhead? I do live near an airport.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

The dots must be the moons, the flashes are most likely from passing aircraft (especially if they have their landing lights on). If these pass just outside the FOV of the telescope, internal reflections can cause flashes in the FOV.

[mrwhippy14]

Yea one of the moons is red. They are very small !

[NGC 1502]

Hi, the "flashes" could be eyepiece internal reflections from the bright light

of Jupiter itself. I get this myself, more especially in poor seeing, I think the

turbulent atmosphere is a factor.

Regards, Ed.

[Rusty Strings]

If you haven't already, download "stellarium" It's a free planetarium program that displays the objects in the sky from your location. If you zoom in on jupiter you will see the moons and their names are displayed.