First Celestia, then the real thing!!

General discussion about Celestia that doesn't fit into other forums.
Topic author
Kim Gowney
Posts: 4
Joined: 12.01.2003
With us: 21 years 11 months
Location: UK

First Celestia, then the real thing!!

Post #1by Kim Gowney » 18.01.2003, 00:55

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!! :D
I came back in and replaye the whole show on celestia, outstanding!!

Darkmiss
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Location: London, England

Post #2by Darkmiss » 18.01.2003, 03:16

Hello Kim, and Welcome to the Celestia Forums. :)
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Kendrix
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Joined: 02.06.2002
With us: 22 years 6 months
Location: near Paris, France
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Post #3by Kendrix » 18.01.2003, 12:08

Hi Kim ! I did the same think last friday night ! So beautiful to watch the real sky...

Rassilon
Posts: 1887
Joined: 29.01.2002
With us: 22 years 10 months
Location: Altair

Post #4by Rassilon » 18.01.2003, 19:20

Yes my roomate uses it quite often to plan his sky watching excursions...Its quite a handy tool!
I'm trying to teach the cavemen how to play scrabble, its uphill work. The only word they know is Uhh and they dont know how to spell it!

Xaazier
Posts: 4
Joined: 14.11.2002
With us: 22 years
Location: Florida

Post #5by Xaazier » 19.01.2003, 01:57

wow ive never even seen jupiter or any other planet (besides earth :) )

can you guys recommend a good telescope?

Kendrix
Posts: 159
Joined: 02.06.2002
With us: 22 years 6 months
Location: near Paris, France
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Post #6by Kendrix » 19.01.2003, 10:32

To start at a reasonnable price : a SkyWatcher 130/900. It has a good motorised equatorial mount (EQ-2).

I am very happy of it, the optic is quite good.
Here is France it costs 500 euros.


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