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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Early Morning Imaging of Jupiter and it's missing EQ Belt
14 May 2010

I received an email from an astro buddy, who saw a news article about Jupiter's missing Equitorial Belt, (shown above), and thought I would see for myself.

(I have witnessed this before in 2006/07.)

It has been very rainy of recent, but looking out my window, I saw that the skies had cleared and before me was a clear early Friday morning - and needed to be taken advantage of.

Setting up the smaller C5 scope outside of my garage, the skies were already showing the coming Sun at 4:30 am, but Jupiter was burning brightly in the eastern skies...so let's do it.

Yep...indeed Southern Equatorial Belt (SEB) has disappeared.

Sky conditions were not optimal, and transparency was turbulent, albeit a clear morning.

When momentary viewing offered a good view, I could clearly see the missing belt with a 40mm eyepiece. Kicking it up to a 25mm brought the sight clearer. Sky conditions allowed a 17mm eyepiece, but beyound that, it was just too jumpy and kept it at that. No filters, just some white balance settings on the camera and some contrast in post processing.

The above Jupiter montage was taken with both 25mm & 17mm eyepieces and using my Canon Powershot S3 with a 80 ISO and zoomed in a bit on Large format.

Solar influences are causing Jovian changes and happened while Jupiter was at superior conjunction and hidden from us by the Sun. It will be interesting to monitor this phenomenon in the next few months and see what happens. But, Jupiter will be closest to Earth on September 24 for great views.

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1277734/Jupiter-loses-stripes-scientists-idea-why.html#ixzz0nu73A4el

Daylight was quickly encroaching on my session and capped the imaging...

But, I could still observe Jupiter burning brightly in the morning twilight..

I had my dog Laika with me, as she is my astro companion and took a early morning pic with the C5...

This weekend promises to be clear, and let's see if we can get better pics...maybe even some iamging throught the C11 beast...

[patrickm]

May 14, 2010 5:46:35 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

It has been very rainy of recent, but looking out my window, I saw that the skies had cleared and before me was a clear early Friday morning - and needed to be taken advantage of.

Setting up the smaller C5 scope outside of my garage, the skies were already showing the coming Sun at 4:30 am, but Jupiter was burning brightly in the eastern skies...so let's do it.

Well, I'm slightly heartened to know I wasn't the only lunatic up at 4 o'clock and looking up! I got home from work at about 0330 and lo! and behold! An almost clear sky! I was exhausted, and since it's been raining, my scope is still packed up from last week, so I grabbed Julia's binocs and plopped down on the upstairs back porch with a snack to see what I could see. I did NOT find Jupiter, but I wasn't really looking for it either, which is probably good or I would have unpacked my scope and gotten even less sleep.

Instead I struggled to find Andromeda Galaxy. I've never seen it before. It took me about twenty minutes to figure out that the little blur that's almost not there was it. Damn these city lights!!!!!!!!! Damn them to hell.

But now I've seen Andromeda. Aren't y'all jealous of all of the cool first time experiences I still have awaiting? I'm an astrotoddler with a whole world in front of him.

May 14, 2010 5:46:35 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

This weekend promises to be clear, and let's see if we can get better pics...maybe even some imaging throught the C11 beast...

I lit incense today for clear skies tonight and tomorrow. I will rub my dog for good luck.

Speaking of which, if I tried to get Caine to go out with me at 0400, he would look at me like I was insane, which is, in fact, what happened this morning.

"See ya! Rotsa ruck!"

Oh yeah, just so I don't completely jack the thread, b1tchin' photos Joe!!!

And I still haven't seen Jupiter in a scope yet...