Transit of Io across Jupiters face...Feb 2nd

[bigjoe]

There will be another transit of Io, Jupiters second brightest, and third largest Moon as viewed from Earth.

At currently just under 1".. you'd need at least a 5 inch plus scope ..preferably a 6 , high power and good seeing to actually resolve it as a disk, and not mag the airy...see Rayleighs and Dawes for your size scope. Ganymede for instance reaches over 1.5" at some apparitions.

Transit is due to commence in Oz
Feb 2 at 00.37am EST...there will also be its shadow transit at 01.33am EST.

Currently at Mag 5.9, Io is the second brightest after Ganymede at 5.5.

Europa, Callisto, and then Ganymede will be further away from Jupiter in that order at that time.

At 5.4 AU , Jupiter at currently 34" and its moons, will appear much bigger soon, when reaching around 5AU when Jupiter will be 40.8" on 15th March.

Of course there may be clouds, as we are currently experiencing around some of NSW and elsewhere , for tonights Lunar Eclipse ...Lets hope not.
PS: Times ..you need to adjust for daylight saving.

bigjoe.

[Wavytone]

Darn... will miss it (wife's birthday).

[bigjoe]

Wavy..
I'll fill you in..thats if its not cloudy..

Ganymede transits are more spectacular if you miss this; and one wont be far off.
bigjoe.

[bigjoe]

Forecast is for Partly Cloudy in the Sydney region for this event ..always good to see if I can resolve it at high power ...many people see ALBEDO effects on Ganymede.

This one would not be big enough I feel at 1".. would need to be 1.5 " like Ganymede and excellent seeing and transperancy...and of course a big, cooled, collimated scope with exceptional optics...to see these Albedo effects.


bigjoe.

[Tinderboxsky]

Joe, I will be interested to hear your report.

I must admit I have just about given up trying for any of the Jovian moon transit events where the elevation is under about 30 degrees. The shadow transits though, are still relatively straight forward at lower altitudes. I find Earth’s atmosphere just too unpredictable and interfering at lower elevations. The one exception is if it is a significant event or one I am not going to be able to observe at another time at higher altitudes.

I think the elevation will only be 22 degrees at Io’s mid transit point tomorrow morning. I will keep my fingers crossed for you for clear and steady skies.

[bigjoe]

Wheathered out hear in Sydney for weeks really Steve ..only chance in my new scope was Upsilon Carinae and Alpha centauri through sucker holes.
Sensational images with great contrast..both the best I have ever seen them in average seeing. Wide easy splits with a 3.2mm TS Dual ED .Can't wait to try this scope on all comers...esp the Transits.

Will try my best to do a full report..thats if the clouds go...and the elevation is high enough at the time.
bigjoe

[bigjoe]

Not looking good Steve, Wavy, All.. so far for tonights Io Transit.

In Sydney, or out Penrith way , were I am at moment...Clouded out ..still will be ready for some cloud breaks ..thats if they occur!

The 130mm TS Photoline FPL 53 Triplet is ready for duty and armed with an Ortho ..Deloi later. !
Looking Bleak here in East Concord.. some breaks ..seeing ordinary 3".
CLEARING towards Centerpoint Tower from a large Balcony at my Sydney home 9.10pm....hope!

Think Ill check out some not too tough doubles for now.

bigjoe.

[bigjoe]

Of course no luck with the clouds last night, but did do some Doubles hunting in Gemini and Lupus beforehand..when it was less cloudy..which was fruitful at least.

bigjoe.