Jupiter - 16th October 2010

[dweller25]

Well after a long break I finally managed to draw Jupiter again.

The first drawing done at 20:26UT shows the shadow of Europa and the very bright disk of Ganymede separated by the Great red spot.

The South equatorial belt can just be made out but it's very fragmented.

The second drawing done at 21:30UT shows just how fast features move in just an hour !

Takahashi FS-128 at x147

Seeing II/III

Altitude - 33'

[DarkerSky]

Nice one Dweller. Good sketches. I was out earlier in the evening when the GRS was rotating onto the disk. What struck me was how the GRS lacked intensity of colour.

[dweller25]

Hi Seb,

Yes the GRS was very muted even mid point on the disk.

In fact compared to Mars earlier this year colours on Jupiter have not been strong - I think Jupiters altitude is a major factor at the moment.

[DarkerSky]

Yes, you could be right about that. It'll be interesting to compare views to now over the next couple of years as it gets higher in the sky.

[Talitha]

Very nice, D25. I just love it when one of the moons hangs on the limb like a white soap-bubble.

[chrisrnuttall]

Dweller

lovely sketches showing just how quick you have to be!

Interesting to read you two discussing the more muted colours of Jupiter this year, I was thinking they seemed more vivid than normal, but this year is the first time i have really got properly observing it with my Orion SPX which is a much better scope than i have owned previousy, so i will have to take your collective word for it!

[dweller25]

Hi Carol - that's a brilliant description

Chris - I think the GRS looks better this year than last year due to the NEB disappearing.