SEB dark spot?

David_W (Dave) · #1 12-11-2010, 11:30 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I was just outside looking at Jupiter through my new TOA-130, and during periods of good seeing I could see a very small dark spot at the same latitude as the
~middle of the SEB. To me it looked tear-shaped and elongated N/S, and smaller than any of the moon shadows, and not as dark as a shadow.

I observed at 22:30EDST (12th Nov) and the spot looked about an hour after passing the central meridian, and seemed directly south of Callisto (Callisto was near Jupiter's NP). I don't have a CCD or anything so couldn't capture an image. Has anyone else seen this spot? It's probably just a random spot, but it was quite conspicuous and isolated on the disk, it stood out from the usual darker patterns at that latitude, and I haven't seen anything like it before during this apparition. I know we're all waiting for the SEB revival so I thought this was worth a post.

Anyway I thought I'd see if anyone else had seen it tonight, or perhaps imaged it?

GeoffMc (Geoff) · #2 13-11-2010, 01:45 AM

Hi David,
we need to work out the CM for this feature, even if only roughly. There was nothing in the SEB tonight (first clear night in weeks: how did you get away with it last night?). Could have been another impact. Let's keep an eye on it.

Geoff Mc

bartman (Bart) · #3 13-11-2010, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Mc

Hi David,
we need to work out the CM for this feature, even if only roughly. There was nothing in the SEB tonight (first clear night in weeks: how did you get away with it last night?). Could have been another impact. Let's keep an eye on it.

Geoff Mc

Just curios what does 'CM' mean?
Bartman

Suzy · #4 13-11-2010, 10:46 AM

Hi David and

I'm actually enjoying the better contrast on the GRS without the SEB getting in the way, dare I say?!

But, it's just not the same Jupiter without it though is it.

I'll be watching this thread with interest. Hope the weather will play ball so we can take a look soon.

AdamJL · #5 13-11-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzy

Hope the weather will play ball so we can take a look soon.

Me too

La Nina is great for farmers, but terrible for anyone wanting to look at our night skies. Especially those that live in the cities and have to make a weekend of it when they want to look. Like me!
Gah, it's annoying.

chrisp9au (Chris) · #6 13-11-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartman

Just curios what does 'CM' mean?
Bartman

Not sure but I think it means Central Meridian, ie the time that a feature crosses the CM.

Cheers

Chris

Quark (Trevor) · #7 13-11-2010, 04:05 PM

Hi David,

Just checked the time of your observation with Jupiter 2.

The UTC would have been 11:30 which gives a CMII of 299.7 degrees. There is a bright spot in the SEB which is the brightest spot at all wavelengths currently on Jupiter, it brightened on about Nov 9th and it is widely thought that this is the precoursor to the revival of the SEB, it is at approx CMII 290 degrees.

This feature has become elongated over the last few days and has developed a dark tail like feature, this may be a shadow thrown by the bright spot, which seems to be at great altitude or may be a hole in the clouds. There is considerable research proceeding on this matter.

Regards
Trevor

David_W (Dave) · #8 13-11-2010, 04:44 PM

Hi Trevor,
Thanks for the info, this all sounds very exciting! The timing I gave is accurate to within 10 mins or so, so considering the error the feature I saw is quite likely the dark tail that you mentioned from the bright spot. I didn't see a bright spot, but the seeing was very bad most of the time, only stabilising for short periods. The dark feature was definitely elongated, so this seems a likely candidate.

As I said before I've been looking at Jupiter a lot over this apparition and this feature definitely looked 'new'.

@Suzy, I've been enjoying the Red Spot too without the SEB being there, but still wait with interest for an SEB revivial, it's supposed to be quite spectacular.

Cloudy again here in Canberra but will take another look whenever possible.

Cheers all.
Dave W

David_W (Dave) · #9 13-11-2010, 04:47 PM

Hi Guys,
Sorry, me again. I just saw the images on the following website:

http://jupiter.cstoneind.com/

The highlighted dark tail-like feature is definitely the one I saw last night.

Suzy · #10 13-11-2010, 05:26 PM

In the current issue of the Aust. Sky & Telescope magazine there is a large article on Jupiter and it's history of losing and regain the belt. Also shows some nice pics of how the SEB starts up again (small round formation, later extending with a tail).
I didn't know the SEB was making a revival so this has been a very informative thread. Great observation David and thanks for posting.

astroron (Ron) · #11 17-11-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_W

Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I was just outside looking at Jupiter through my new TOA-130, and during periods of good seeing I could see a very small dark spot at the same latitude as the
~middle of the SEB. To me it looked tear-shaped and elongated N/S, and smaller than any of the moon shadows, and not as dark as a shadow.

I observed at 22:30EDST (12th Nov) and the spot looked about an hour after passing the central meridian, and seemed directly south of Callisto (Callisto was near Jupiter's NP). I don't have a CCD or anything so couldn't capture an image. Has anyone else seen this spot? It's probably just a random spot, but it was quite conspicuous and isolated on the disk, it stood out from the usual darker patterns at that latitude, and I haven't seen anything like it before during this apparition. I know we're all waiting for the SEB revival so I thought this was worth a post.

Anyway I thought I'd see if anyone else had seen it tonight, or perhaps imaged it?

\

David could you give us some info on the eye pieces used? Is the scope a Refractor?
I am not familier with the scope mentioned

BY 130 I presume it is about a five inch scope

Any other information would be appreciated

Thanks

David_W (Dave) · #12 18-11-2010, 11:01 AM

Hi Astroron,
Thanks for the query. My telelscope is a Takahashi TOA-130NS 5" F7.7 ortho-apochromatic refractor. I bought it about 3 months ago and it's by far the best telescope I've ever had the privilege of using.

The eyepieces I used were both a Meade series 4000 4.7mm UWA that I bought years ago and a Takahashi 3.6mm HI-LE, I used them with the TOA-1.6x extender to get a bit more magnification when the seeing was good.

I can only use it on my apartment balcony (and sometimes take it Mount Stromlo for darker sky observing) but the views of the moon and planets are breathtaking. I'm currently saving up for a new mount, the current one is very wobbly in the wind.

For anyone out there who wants a good scope, this brand and model can't be beat, it's a masterpiece.