Zooming into Io as per at the start up I noticed a shadow cross the moons top, intrigued I shifted the view and saw Europa Eclipse the sun, wow!, zooming out I noticed the eclipse shadow start to cross the Planet itself, it was Io's and shortly after Europas as well, (sped the time up to 100X) I checked the timing and it was just right, Jupiter would be visible outside my backdoor between 21:00 UT and 23:00 UT, exactly when the phenomenon was taking place, I set the scope up (an 8 inch reflector) and went out for a meal, got back at 21:30 ish, and dreseed up for outside, the skie was nice and clear with a full moon not far from the planet but it would not interfere with this sight!
even at 60X the shaodow of Io was visible, at 100X it was plain, though the seeing was not too good and it would appear then vanish as the focus was shifted by the disturbed air, at 200X it was very obvious, seeming to lie smack in the centre of the pale central band.
at 22:30 went out again but there were some cumulous clouds moving through, they cleared about 15 minutes later and I was delighted to see the second shadow, that of Europa begin it's transit, I waited until the tiny moon made visual contact with the giant planets edge and shortly after the whole show was hidden by the house roof, this was a first for me, I have never seen one of Jupiters moons transit the face, to see two at once on the first occasion was a pretty special start!!
I came back in and replaye the whole show on celestia, outstanding!!
First Celestia, then the real thing!!
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Topic authorKim Gowney
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 12.01.2003
- With us: 21 years 11 months
- Location: UK