Jupiter 28 September 2009

[Paul Haese]

Seeing was good early on tonight. It remained good but high cloud came in and affected the transparency.

Click for image.

Good detail can be seen in both SEB and NEB. Callisto's shadow can also be seen traversing the cloud tops too.

Comments welcome.

[Quark (Trevor)]

Good job as usual Paul,

Plenty of detail and always impressed with your processing.

Regards
Trevor

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Very nice. And BTW congrats - noticed one of your Jupiter pics in the latest Aust Sky and Telescope mag.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks chaps.

Here is one from the very end of the run. Red spot Junior is in view with heaps of interesting stuff happening in the NEB. South is up for the purposes of this image.

Callisto's shadow is just leaving the cloud tops on the left hand side of the planet. It looks like a small bite has been taken out of the planet.

Click here

The seeing here has been getting better each night for the last couple of weeks. I am keeping an eye out for the highs which drop a little each time. I am thinking this time next year could be my imaging run for Jupiter.

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Pardon the noobie question, but is it best to shoot when there are high pressure systems around? I assume the atmosphere is more stable then? Is that what you mean?

[Paul Haese]

Weather 101.

Troy, what you want to see is a high pressure directly over head of your position. When a high is located there, there is generally no wind movement at all levels. The jet stream is pushed away from your area by the upward column of air. It is the ideal type of system for planetary and solar imaging at high resolution.

This is not always possible but conditions are usually at the best when you have a high over you or directly near you.

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Thanks for the clarification. I understand the effects of the highs at ground level in terms of wind and clouds I guess, but wasn't sure if the same applies up higher with the jetstream etc.