Nailed it-Jupiter

[gel]

5am im up im outside i look up and Gotcha-thats a bright bugger,its jupiter with all its moons,so i start mucking around with my eyepieces and i ended up preferring the 12mm over the 9mm - go figure -anyways its nearly total daylight and i must say im still impressed with this planetary stargazing stuff-what is to be my next planet,ive done mars,saturn and now jupiter
(twas jolly over jupiters colour banding muchly so)

[Robert_T]

Hey Gel, Jupiter's a definite favourite of mine, there's so much to see but what's more if you keep coming back or even if you what for an hour or so you'll see it's like a mini solar system. Moon's swing past dorpping shadows on the planet the bands change and new features come into view asthe planet rotates a lot quicker than earth. Keep coming back and spend a bit of time at the eyepice and you'll find you can see more and more.

The quality of seeing is the main factor in how far you can usefully push the magnification, so keep trying that 9mm - when the seeing is good you'll find it probably delivers a better view.

cheers,

[davidpretorius]

yup, it is a stunner. not sure if you have tracking, but definately try the 9mm again if the seeing is better. one day you will be able to view at 4mm or better and that will blow you even further away.

congrats!

[asimov]

You could give venus a go. Looks splendid at 6-7 in the morning.

[fringe_dweller]

congrats Gel - look out you sound like your geting addicted!, a lifetime of sleep and wallet depriviation ahead :D only kidding
btw I hear earths nice at this time of year? ;)

[ving]

go gel!!! :)
try for uranus next ;)

venus is easier tho...