How to observe Jupiter

Video: Top Tips For Observing Jupiter Through Your Telescope

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 4: Equipment Required
Part 2 of 4: Preparing to Observe
Part 3 of 4: Observing Jupiter
Part 4 of 4: Capturing Observations
Tips
Warnings
What do you need
Additional articles

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. This fifth planet from the Sun is one of the so-called gas giants. The period of Jupiter's revolution around the Sun is almost 12 years. Jupiter is known for its Great Red Spot and alternating dark and light stripes. It is one of the brightest objects in the sky after the Sun, Moon and the planet Venus. Due to its enormous size, Jupiter shines brightly for several months of the year during the hours before and after midnight. Many view Jupiter in the night sky - a great way for budding astronomers to observe distant planets without expensive equipment.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Equipment Required

1 Take out the map of the starry sky. Before you start observing Jupiter, you need to stock up on a map of the starry sky, by which you will determine in which part of the sky you should look for this planet. For experienced astronomers, many sophisticated sky maps are produced that depict the positions and trajectories of the planets. Less sophisticated astronomy enthusiasts can use numerous smartphone apps to find Jupiter in the night sky, as well as other planets and stars.
- If you have downloaded the corresponding application to your smartphone, you just need to point it at the sky, and it will identify the stars and planets by itself.
2 Get your binoculars ready. In order to make out the large and bright Jupiter in the night sky, a good pair of binoculars is enough. Binoculars with 7x magnification are suitable - in them Jupiter will appear as a small white disk in the sky. If you do not know what magnification a particular binocular has, take a look at the numbers written on it: the “7x” mark means that this binocular has seven times magnification, and with it you will be able to see Jupiter.
3 Stock up on a telescope. To observe Jupiter with its colorful features, you need a telescope. A simple telescope for beginners will do. With it, you can see the stripes of Jupiter, all of its four large moons, and maybe the Great Red Spot. Currently, the choice of telescopes is huge. For beginners, a refractor telescope with an aperture (objective diameter) of 60–70 millimeters is suitable.
- The performance of your telescope will deteriorate if its optics are not sufficiently cooled. Store the telescope in a cool place and take it outdoors before use to allow it to cool down before you start observing.

Part 2 of 4: Preparing to Observe

1 Choose good observation conditions. This way you will save your time and avoid long hours of unnecessary waiting. Take a look at the stars before setting up your telescope. See if they flicker in the night sky. Such flickering indicates turbulence in the atmosphere, which will make observation difficult. It is better to observe planets and stars in a calm atmosphere, when it seems that the night sky is covered with a slight haze.
- The Association of Observers of the Moon and Planets (ALPO) has a scale of astroclimatic conditions from 0 to 10 points. If conditions are below 5 on this scale, you will most likely fail to make good observations.
2 Find the right time of day or night. Planets are best seen at night, but Jupiter is so bright that it can sometimes be seen just after dusk or just before dawn. At dusk, it appears in the east, and during the night it moves across the sky to the west. In the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, Jupiter is visible in the west in the morning just before the sun rises in the east.
3 Choose a spot to watch and prepare to wait. Find a suitable place that is dark and quiet so that nothing distracts you. Your backyard will work, but remember that planetary watching is a long activity, so be sure to dress warmly and prepare for a long wait. If you are going to record your observations, stock up on the necessary materials in advance so as not to leave your duty post.

Part 3 of 4: Observing Jupiter

1 Find Jupiter with binoculars. Choose a comfortable and stable place and, if possible, mount the binoculars on a camera tripod or other stationary and stable object so that it does not shake. With binoculars, you can see Jupiter as a white disk.
- You can also see several (up to four) bright points near Jupiter - these are the four Galilean satellites of the planet. At least 63 satellites revolve around Jupiter. In 1610, Galileo Galilei discovered the four largest moons and named them Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. How many satellites you find depends on their current position in Jupiter's orbit.
- Even if you have a telescope, it is convenient to first use binoculars to find Jupiter in the sky, and only then point the telescope at it to study the details.
2 Look at the planet through a telescope. Once you've spotted Jupiter, you can point your telescope at it to examine surface details and find the planet's signature features. The surface of Jupiter has a characteristic banded structure: dark belts are interspersed with light zones. Try to see the central light strip, which is known as the equatorial zone, and the darker belts to the north and south of it.
- Be persistent when looking for belts and zones. It takes time to learn to distinguish between individual bands through a telescope. It will be good if someone who already has experience in this matter helps you.
3 Find the Great Red Spot. This is one of the most colorful characteristics of Jupiter. The Great Red Spot is a giant oval storm that is larger than Earth. It has been observed for over 300 years. The Great Red Spot is at the outer edge of the southern equatorial belt. It shows how quickly the surface of the planet is changing: within just an hour, you can notice that the spot has shifted to the side.
- The intensity of the Great Red Spot varies and cannot always be seen.
- In fact, the spot is not entirely red, but rather orange or pale pink.

Part 4 of 4: Capturing Observations

1 Try to sketch what you see. By observing Jupiter through a telescope, you can record your observations and sketch the planet.In essence, this is exactly what astronomers do (with minimal technical equipment): they observe the sky, record what they see and analyze the results. Jupiter is changing rapidly, so try to keep within about twenty minutes. Thus, you will join the great tradition of astronomical sketches.
2 Take a photo of Jupiter. If you prefer a more modern method of recording your observations, you can take a picture of Jupiter. Modern cameras can provide significant magnifications. Some amateur astronomers use CCD cameras, others use cheaper cameras. Even a regular webcam is suitable for shooting through a telescope.
- If you are going to use a DSLR camera, remember that slower shutter speeds will better capture satellites, but the light and dark stripes on the planet's surface will become indistinguishable.
3 Take a video. The constant changes in the surface of Jupiter and the position of its satellites can be captured on video. This is done in much the same way as photographing.
- Use your notes and footage to track changes on the planet's surface and highlight the highlights.
- Jupiter's atmosphere is highly turbulent, and its surface appearance can change dramatically in just a few days.

Tips

Choose a dark place to observe, such as your backyard.
NASA information on Jupiter can be found at http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jupiter, and at http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/galileo/ you can see the results that were received by the spacecraft "Galileo".
Download the Google Sky Map application to your mobile phone, it will make it much easier for you to find the planet.