{"id":50861,"date":"2023-11-01T09:53:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T09:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/88c3760f-e4a7-4490-9e5c-67a17df82ae4"},"modified":"2023-11-01T10:32:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T10:32:39","slug":"how-to-observe-jupiter-through-a-telescope","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/how-to-observe-jupiter-through-a-telescope\/","title":{"rendered":"How to observe Jupiter through a telescope"},"content":{"rendered":"

See the gas giant through a telescope and observe its weather patterns, large moons and Great Red Spot. <\/p>

By Paul Abel\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 01 November 2023 at 09:53 AM<\/p>

\n\n

If you’ve ever taken the time to observe Jupiter through a telescope you’ll notice just how amazing it looks through even a modest telescope.<\/p>

You can easily see Jupiter’s Galilean Moons<\/a> through a telescope, for example.<\/p>

A telescopic view also reveals Jupiter<\/a> to be crossed by dark belts and brighter zones.<\/p>

The zones are composed of ice crystals higher up in the stratosphere.<\/p>

Darker features tend to be lower down in the warmer depths. These belts and zones are governed by powerful jet streams, keeping them in place.<\/p>

Jupiter imaged in August 2022, showing its famous Great Red Spot. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A 3-inch telescope scope will reveal Jupiter’s two main equatorial belts and the polar shading.<\/p>
A 6-inch telescope will show Jupiter’s temperate belts and zones, along with the brownish hues of the largest belts.<\/p>
Use the diagram below to help you discern what you’re seeing when you observe Jupiter through a telescope.<\/p>
$\"Labelled$
Labelled diagram showing Jupiter’s different belts, bands and zones. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Jupiter’s gassy atmosphere<\/strong><\/h2>
Perhaps the most striking thing about a view of Jupiter through a telescope is just how alien it is.<\/p>
There\u2019s no solid surface on which to stand and gaze out across the Solar System.<\/p>
Jupiter is a gas giant: when we observe Jupiter through a telescope we see the top of a tumultuous, extensive atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>
If we could venture down through the planet, we\u2019d have a fearsome journey.<\/p>
At first it would be easy going as we drifted through a cloud deck of ammonia-ice crystals, and later, ammonium hydrosulphide.<\/p>
But in the lowest cloud deck (composed of water), winds really pick up at speeds of 100 metres per second.<\/p>
As we continue to fall, pressures and temperatures become extreme, to the point that hydrogen and helium are squashed into an odd substance called \u2018metallic hydrogen and helium\u2019.<\/p>
This churning metallic ocean gives Jupiter a substantial magnetic field<\/a>: if we could see it in our skies from Earth it would be about the size of the full Moon.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter,$
Jupiter photographed by Josh French, Cornwall, 8 November 2022. Equipment: ZWO ASI 462MC camera, Orion Skyquest XX12g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian and mount<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Setting up a telescope to observe Jupiter<\/strong><\/h2>
If you’re going to observe Jupiter through a telescope, set it up so your view of the part of sky where Jupiter will be is free from obstructions.<\/p>
Have your telescope ready for observing half an hour or so before you plan to begin looking at Jupiter.<\/p>
This half-hour will give your telescope the time to reach the same temperature as the air outside.<\/p>
It will reduce air currents within the tube, giving you more stable views that won\u2019t dance about in the eyepiece.<\/p>
$\"Set$
Set your telescope up where your view of Jupiter will not be obstructed, and leave 30 mins for the telescope to acclimatise. Credit: M-Gucci \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Using a small telescope<\/strong><\/h2>
A view through a small telescope will show you Jupiter is a very alien world indeed.<\/p>
When you look at Jupiter all you\u2019re seeing is the top of a very thick and very active atmosphere.<\/p>
The planet is a gas giant and has no solid surface, which means making a map of it is a strange business.<\/p>
After all, maps depend on surface objects having fixed locations that never change.<\/p>
On\u00a0Jupiter, features drift across the face of the planet at a rate determined by whichever jet stream they happen to lie in.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter$
Jupiter and Galilean moons, photographed by Paul Sparham, Leatherhead, Surrey, UK, 6 May 2018. Equipment: iPhone 5s, Orion XT6 Dobsonian<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Since all this chaos does for geography what the artist MC Escher<\/a> did for geometry, astronomers have devised a way of mapping Jupiter\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>
The planet is split into two regions: an equatorial region called \u2018System I\u2019 that rotates completely in nine hours, 50 minutes, and the rest of the planet, called \u2018System II\u2019.<\/p>
This rotates completely in nine hours, 55 minutes: the fastest rotation of any planet in the Solar System. <\/p>
Within Systems I and II are different belts and zones, the names of which are shown in the diagram at the top of this article.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter,$
Jupiter, Io and Callisto by Jim Thurston, London, UK. Equipment: Celestron 9.25″ SCT, EQ6, DMK21 mono CCD, RGB filters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
With a magnification of about 150x, Jupiter will look squashed and will display a light lemon-curd colouration.<\/p>
You will be able to see the two prominent dark bands, the southern equatorial belt and the northern equatorial belt.<\/p>
Jupiter’s dusky poles will be visible and you may be able to make out another couple of belts and zones depending on the seeing<\/a> (how still the air in the atmosphere is).<\/p>
At these magnifications, the Great Red Spot<\/a> should be visible if you\u2019re lucky enough to get good observing conditions (more on the GRS later).<\/p>
$\"Jupiter,$
Jupiter, Europa and the Great Red Spot by Alan Kennedy, Ferryhill, Co. Durham, UK. Equipment: 8″ SCT, NEQ6 mount, ZWO ASI120MC CCD, 2x Vixen barlow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
It’s possible to make out darker sections in Jupiter’s northern equatorial belt and bright white ovals in the equatorial zone with a small 4.5-inch reflector.<\/p>
If you have this size of telescope, you\u2019ll be able to make useful observations of the planet.<\/p>
If you have a telescope with an aperture of 6 inches or more, you\u2019re in for some truly stunning views of Jupiter.<\/p>
You\u2019ll see a wealth of detail, such as the southern equatorial belt split by a bright zone, and the northern equatorial belt will be a hive of activity with festoons and spots.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter$
Jupiter with Great Red Spot on 2nd May by Ralph Smyth, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. Equipment: Celestron C8 SCT, Skywatcher HEQ5PRO Synscan Mount, ZWO 290MM CMOS, Baader LRGB filters, x2 Barlow lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Observe Jupiter’s weather patterns<\/strong><\/h2>
There are always several short-lived weather systems on show.<\/p>
Bright spots, festoons (darker markings stretching diagonally away from the main bands) and dark barges (lozenge-shaped regions that occasionally merge together) populate the belts and zones. <\/p>
Measuring how much these objects drift means you can infer the speed of the jet streams in Jupiter\u2019s roiling atmosphere.<\/p>
It\u2019s like dropping a twig into a stream and measuring how fast the twig is moving; therefore how fast the stream is flowing.<\/p>
Indeed, before the advent of space probes, this was how the wind speeds on Jupiter were measured.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Jupiter$
Jupiter and moons, by Roger Hutchinson, London, UK, 14 July 2019. Equipment: ZWO ASI174MM camera, Celestron Edge HD11 Schmidt-Cassegrain<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Up the aperture to observe Jupiter through a telescope<\/strong><\/h2>
Through 8-inch and larger telescopes, the view of Jupiter is really spectacular.<\/p>
A number of more subtle belts and zones are revealed \u2013 on a good night the details can be overwhelming!<\/p>
White ovals appear in the South Tropical Zone, swirling structures in the equatorial belts, and festoons (a darker cloud that links two neighbouring belts) streak across the Equatorial Zone.<\/p>
$\"A$
A view of the South Equatorial belt and the white Southern Tropical Zone on Jupiter. Right in the image is the famous Great Red Spot. Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/SwRI\/MSSS \/ Image processing by Kevin M. Gill, licensed under CC by 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>
With an 8-inch reflector you’ll see lots of detail on Jupiter, such as the colours of the belts and a good view of the Great Red Spot.<\/p>
Use averted vision<\/a> on Jupiter\u2019s cloud bands and other features to glimpse extra detail in the swirling atmosphere.<\/p>
With a large telescope, you can also try your hand at taking images of Jupiter’s roiling northern equatorial belts.<\/p>
And look for white spots near the polar regions.<\/p>
$\"An$
Jupiter’s stripes transition into giant polar cyclones. This image was captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on 10 April 2020 and processed by citizen scientist David Marriott. Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/SwRI\/MSSS\/David Marriott<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Take your time<\/strong><\/h2>
One thing to remember when you observe Jupiter through a telescope is you shouldn\u2019t expect to see fine details instantly.<\/p>
For good results, spend time \u2013 maybe as much as 15 minutes \u2013 looking at the planet and taking it in.<\/p>
Use magnification suitable for the seeing conditions: around 180x is enough to bring out fine details on an average night.<\/p>
If you want to make a drawing of Jupiter<\/a>, finish it in under 12 minutes, otherwise rotation will have moved the features on.<\/p>
Spend six minutes drawing the main belts, then add the final details in the remaining time.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Paul's$
A sketch of Jupiter. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Use telescope filters<\/strong><\/h2>
Colour filters can enhance many of Jupiter’s features through your telescope eyepice by increasing their contrast.<\/p>
Use a blue filter to bring out details in the belts, or a red filter to sharpen up the zones.<\/p>
A yellow filter generally sharpens most things on the disc \u2013 it\u2019s a good all round filter for Jupiter.<\/p>
Observe the Great Red Spot<\/strong><\/h2>
The most famous artefact of Jovian meteorology is the Great Red Spot.<\/p>
This is a vast hurricane three times the size of Earth that has been raging in the planet\u2019s South Tropical Zone for hundreds of years.<\/p>
The spot varies in colour and intensity and sometimes fades. When it has a strong orange colour it should be visible in a 4-inch scope.<\/p>
Larger telescopes will reveal subtle structure inside the spot on a good night. Try using a light-blue filter to help bring out detail.<\/p>
$\"Observe$
Jupiter and Great Red Spot by Keith Johnson, Durham, UK. Equipment: ZWO ASI120mm camera, USB motorized focuser, Televue 2.5x Powermate, Celestron C9.25″ O.T.A, Skywatcher EQ6 Pro mount, Baader Planetarium R.G.B.filters, XAGYL motorized USB filter wheel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Observe the Galilean moons<\/strong><\/h2>
Jupiter has four large satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.<\/p>
They\u2019re called the Galilean moons, Galileo<\/a> discovered them using a telescope less powerful than the average pair of binoculars.<\/p>
Before the Voyager spacecraft visited the system, the moons of Jupiter were thought to be cold, dead worlds.<\/p>
We now know they\u2019re some of the most fascinating bodies in the Solar System, alive with geology, sculpted by gravity and cataclysmic impacts.\u00a0<\/p>
In a small telescope, Galilean moons appear as bright star-like points, but look at them in an 8-inch instrument and they apear as tiny discs.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter\u2019s$
Jupiter\u2019s four bright Galilean moons appear in a line, shining like stars near to the planet. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Jupiter’s moons cast shadows into space, and often they (and respective shadows) pass in front of the planet in an event called a transit.<\/p>
Transits are great to watch: Ganymede\u2019s shadow can be seen in a 2-inch scope under good conditions.<\/p>
And certainly a 3-inch aperture is enough to show the shadows of the others.\u00a0<\/p>
Sometimes more than one of these moons makes a transit at the same time.<\/p>
It\u2019s remarkable just how much quicker Io\u2019s shadow crosses Jupiter\u2019s clouds compared to that of outermost Callisto.<\/p>
See if you can spot a transiting moon. To check when these events occur, read our guide on how to see the Galilean moons<\/a> and use planetary observing and imaging software WinJUPOS<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Observe$
Observe Jupiter through a telescope and see its Galilean Moons. This is Jupiter and a triple moon transit by Sona Shahani Shukla, New Delhi, India, 15 August 2021 Equipment: ZWO ASI178MC camera, 8-inch Sky-Watcher 200P Dobsonian<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Experiment with different equipment<\/strong><\/h2>
I’ve produced sketches below to show how Jupiter appears through different equipment: binoculars, small\/medium telescope and large telescope<\/p>
**Binoculars<\/strong><\/h3>**
$\"Sketch$
Sketch of Jupiter showing what it looks like through binoculars. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A pair of binoculars will reveal Jupiter and its four largest Moons.<\/p>
Night after night you will be able to observe the moons, tiny star-like points, change position as they orbit Jupiter.<\/p>
You\u2019ll also be able to catch the planet moving against the background stars.<\/p>
**Small\/medium telescope<\/strong><\/h3>** $\"Sketch$
Sketch of Jupiter showing what it looks like through a small\/medium telescope. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
In a small telescope, Jupiter is transformed into a yellow disc that looks appreciably flattened.<\/p>
You\u2019ll see a bright Equatorial Zone separating the main equatorial belts.<\/p>
With a medium telescope, look for bright structures in Jupiter’s larger South Equatorial Belt just following the Great Red Spot. A light-blue filter will help.<\/p>
Large telescope<\/strong><\/h3>
$\"Sketch$
Sketch of Jupiter showing what it looks like through a large telescope. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Myriad fine, slowly changing details will be apparent when you observe Jupiter through a large telescope.<\/p>
You can study the small storms and clouds within the main belts and monitor subtle colour changes in the zones.<\/p>
Locate Oval BA, a small version of the Great Red Spot also in the South Tropical Zone.<\/p>
$\"A$
A view of the Great Red Spot and a massive storm called Oval BA in Jupiter’s atmosphere, as seen by the Juno spacecraft. Enhanced Image by Gerald Eichst\u00e4dt and Sean Doran (CC BY-NC-SA) based on images provided Courtesy of NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/SwRI\/MSSS<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Submit your Jupiter observations for science<\/strong><\/h2>
When you observe Jupiter through a telescope, don\u2019t just let your observations sit there doing nothing.<\/p>
You can send your data the Jupiter section of the British Astronomical Association<\/a> or the Society for Popular Astronomy<\/a>.<\/p>
Then your careful observations of Jupiter can be put into the body of scientific data on the planet.<\/p>
And you’ll be contributing real citizen science<\/a> that helps us all understand more about our Solar System.<\/p>
Jupiter is a planet that never disappoints: it\u2019s constantly changing and no two views are ever quite the same. It\u2019s a world that you can return to again and again.<\/p>
***Have you observed or photographed the planet Jupiter? Let us know how you got on by emailing*** ***contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n***
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Jupiter imaged in August 2022, showing its famous Great Red Spot. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A 3-inch telescope scope will reveal Jupiter’s two main equatorial belts and the polar shading.<\/p>
A 6-inch telescope will show Jupiter’s temperate belts and zones, along with the brownish hues of the largest belts.<\/p>
Use the diagram below to help you discern what you’re seeing when you observe Jupiter through a telescope.<\/p>
$\"Labelled$
Labelled diagram showing Jupiter’s different belts, bands and zones. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Jupiter’s gassy atmosphere<\/strong><\/h2>
Perhaps the most striking thing about a view of Jupiter through a telescope is just how alien it is.<\/p>
There\u2019s no solid surface on which to stand and gaze out across the Solar System.<\/p>
Jupiter is a gas giant: when we observe Jupiter through a telescope we see the top of a tumultuous, extensive atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>
If we could venture down through the planet, we\u2019d have a fearsome journey.<\/p>
At first it would be easy going as we drifted through a cloud deck of ammonia-ice crystals, and later, ammonium hydrosulphide.<\/p>
But in the lowest cloud deck (composed of water), winds really pick up at speeds of 100 metres per second.<\/p>
As we continue to fall, pressures and temperatures become extreme, to the point that hydrogen and helium are squashed into an odd substance called \u2018metallic hydrogen and helium\u2019.<\/p>
This churning metallic ocean gives Jupiter a substantial magnetic field<\/a>: if we could see it in our skies from Earth it would be about the size of the full Moon.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter,$
Jupiter photographed by Josh French, Cornwall, 8 November 2022. Equipment: ZWO ASI 462MC camera, Orion Skyquest XX12g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian and mount<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Setting up a telescope to observe Jupiter<\/strong><\/h2>
If you’re going to observe Jupiter through a telescope, set it up so your view of the part of sky where Jupiter will be is free from obstructions.<\/p>
Have your telescope ready for observing half an hour or so before you plan to begin looking at Jupiter.<\/p>
This half-hour will give your telescope the time to reach the same temperature as the air outside.<\/p>
It will reduce air currents within the tube, giving you more stable views that won\u2019t dance about in the eyepiece.<\/p>
$\"Set$
Set your telescope up where your view of Jupiter will not be obstructed, and leave 30 mins for the telescope to acclimatise. Credit: M-Gucci \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Using a small telescope<\/strong><\/h2>
A view through a small telescope will show you Jupiter is a very alien world indeed.<\/p>
When you look at Jupiter all you\u2019re seeing is the top of a very thick and very active atmosphere.<\/p>
The planet is a gas giant and has no solid surface, which means making a map of it is a strange business.<\/p>
After all, maps depend on surface objects having fixed locations that never change.<\/p>
On\u00a0Jupiter, features drift across the face of the planet at a rate determined by whichever jet stream they happen to lie in.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter$
Jupiter and Galilean moons, photographed by Paul Sparham, Leatherhead, Surrey, UK, 6 May 2018. Equipment: iPhone 5s, Orion XT6 Dobsonian<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Since all this chaos does for geography what the artist MC Escher<\/a> did for geometry, astronomers have devised a way of mapping Jupiter\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>
The planet is split into two regions: an equatorial region called \u2018System I\u2019 that rotates completely in nine hours, 50 minutes, and the rest of the planet, called \u2018System II\u2019.<\/p>
This rotates completely in nine hours, 55 minutes: the fastest rotation of any planet in the Solar System. <\/p>
Within Systems I and II are different belts and zones, the names of which are shown in the diagram at the top of this article.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter,$
Jupiter, Io and Callisto by Jim Thurston, London, UK. Equipment: Celestron 9.25″ SCT, EQ6, DMK21 mono CCD, RGB filters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
With a magnification of about 150x, Jupiter will look squashed and will display a light lemon-curd colouration.<\/p>
You will be able to see the two prominent dark bands, the southern equatorial belt and the northern equatorial belt.<\/p>
Jupiter’s dusky poles will be visible and you may be able to make out another couple of belts and zones depending on the seeing<\/a> (how still the air in the atmosphere is).<\/p>
At these magnifications, the Great Red Spot<\/a> should be visible if you\u2019re lucky enough to get good observing conditions (more on the GRS later).<\/p>
$\"Jupiter,$
Jupiter, Europa and the Great Red Spot by Alan Kennedy, Ferryhill, Co. Durham, UK. Equipment: 8″ SCT, NEQ6 mount, ZWO ASI120MC CCD, 2x Vixen barlow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
It’s possible to make out darker sections in Jupiter’s northern equatorial belt and bright white ovals in the equatorial zone with a small 4.5-inch reflector.<\/p>
If you have this size of telescope, you\u2019ll be able to make useful observations of the planet.<\/p>
If you have a telescope with an aperture of 6 inches or more, you\u2019re in for some truly stunning views of Jupiter.<\/p>
You\u2019ll see a wealth of detail, such as the southern equatorial belt split by a bright zone, and the northern equatorial belt will be a hive of activity with festoons and spots.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter$
Jupiter with Great Red Spot on 2nd May by Ralph Smyth, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. Equipment: Celestron C8 SCT, Skywatcher HEQ5PRO Synscan Mount, ZWO 290MM CMOS, Baader LRGB filters, x2 Barlow lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Observe Jupiter’s weather patterns<\/strong><\/h2>
There are always several short-lived weather systems on show.<\/p>
Bright spots, festoons (darker markings stretching diagonally away from the main bands) and dark barges (lozenge-shaped regions that occasionally merge together) populate the belts and zones. <\/p>
Measuring how much these objects drift means you can infer the speed of the jet streams in Jupiter\u2019s roiling atmosphere.<\/p>
It\u2019s like dropping a twig into a stream and measuring how fast the twig is moving; therefore how fast the stream is flowing.<\/p>
Indeed, before the advent of space probes, this was how the wind speeds on Jupiter were measured.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Jupiter$
Jupiter and moons, by Roger Hutchinson, London, UK, 14 July 2019. Equipment: ZWO ASI174MM camera, Celestron Edge HD11 Schmidt-Cassegrain<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Up the aperture to observe Jupiter through a telescope<\/strong><\/h2>
Through 8-inch and larger telescopes, the view of Jupiter is really spectacular.<\/p>
A number of more subtle belts and zones are revealed \u2013 on a good night the details can be overwhelming!<\/p>
White ovals appear in the South Tropical Zone, swirling structures in the equatorial belts, and festoons (a darker cloud that links two neighbouring belts) streak across the Equatorial Zone.<\/p>
$\"A$
A view of the South Equatorial belt and the white Southern Tropical Zone on Jupiter. Right in the image is the famous Great Red Spot. Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/SwRI\/MSSS \/ Image processing by Kevin M. Gill, licensed under CC by 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>
With an 8-inch reflector you’ll see lots of detail on Jupiter, such as the colours of the belts and a good view of the Great Red Spot.<\/p>
Use averted vision<\/a> on Jupiter\u2019s cloud bands and other features to glimpse extra detail in the swirling atmosphere.<\/p>
With a large telescope, you can also try your hand at taking images of Jupiter’s roiling northern equatorial belts.<\/p>
And look for white spots near the polar regions.<\/p>
$\"An$
Jupiter’s stripes transition into giant polar cyclones. This image was captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on 10 April 2020 and processed by citizen scientist David Marriott. Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/SwRI\/MSSS\/David Marriott<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Take your time<\/strong><\/h2>
One thing to remember when you observe Jupiter through a telescope is you shouldn\u2019t expect to see fine details instantly.<\/p>
For good results, spend time \u2013 maybe as much as 15 minutes \u2013 looking at the planet and taking it in.<\/p>
Use magnification suitable for the seeing conditions: around 180x is enough to bring out fine details on an average night.<\/p>
If you want to make a drawing of Jupiter<\/a>, finish it in under 12 minutes, otherwise rotation will have moved the features on.<\/p>
Spend six minutes drawing the main belts, then add the final details in the remaining time.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Paul's$
A sketch of Jupiter. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Use telescope filters<\/strong><\/h2>
Colour filters can enhance many of Jupiter’s features through your telescope eyepice by increasing their contrast.<\/p>
Use a blue filter to bring out details in the belts, or a red filter to sharpen up the zones.<\/p>
A yellow filter generally sharpens most things on the disc \u2013 it\u2019s a good all round filter for Jupiter.<\/p>
Observe the Great Red Spot<\/strong><\/h2>
The most famous artefact of Jovian meteorology is the Great Red Spot.<\/p>
This is a vast hurricane three times the size of Earth that has been raging in the planet\u2019s South Tropical Zone for hundreds of years.<\/p>
The spot varies in colour and intensity and sometimes fades. When it has a strong orange colour it should be visible in a 4-inch scope.<\/p>
Larger telescopes will reveal subtle structure inside the spot on a good night. Try using a light-blue filter to help bring out detail.<\/p>
$\"Observe$
Jupiter and Great Red Spot by Keith Johnson, Durham, UK. Equipment: ZWO ASI120mm camera, USB motorized focuser, Televue 2.5x Powermate, Celestron C9.25″ O.T.A, Skywatcher EQ6 Pro mount, Baader Planetarium R.G.B.filters, XAGYL motorized USB filter wheel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Observe the Galilean moons<\/strong><\/h2>
Jupiter has four large satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.<\/p>
They\u2019re called the Galilean moons, Galileo<\/a> discovered them using a telescope less powerful than the average pair of binoculars.<\/p>
Before the Voyager spacecraft visited the system, the moons of Jupiter were thought to be cold, dead worlds.<\/p>
We now know they\u2019re some of the most fascinating bodies in the Solar System, alive with geology, sculpted by gravity and cataclysmic impacts.\u00a0<\/p>
In a small telescope, Galilean moons appear as bright star-like points, but look at them in an 8-inch instrument and they apear as tiny discs.<\/p>
$\"Jupiter\u2019s$
Jupiter\u2019s four bright Galilean moons appear in a line, shining like stars near to the planet. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Jupiter’s moons cast shadows into space, and often they (and respective shadows) pass in front of the planet in an event called a transit.<\/p>
Transits are great to watch: Ganymede\u2019s shadow can be seen in a 2-inch scope under good conditions.<\/p>
And certainly a 3-inch aperture is enough to show the shadows of the others.\u00a0<\/p>
Sometimes more than one of these moons makes a transit at the same time.<\/p>
It\u2019s remarkable just how much quicker Io\u2019s shadow crosses Jupiter\u2019s clouds compared to that of outermost Callisto.<\/p>
See if you can spot a transiting moon. To check when these events occur, read our guide on how to see the Galilean moons<\/a> and use planetary observing and imaging software WinJUPOS<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Observe$
Observe Jupiter through a telescope and see its Galilean Moons. This is Jupiter and a triple moon transit by Sona Shahani Shukla, New Delhi, India, 15 August 2021 Equipment: ZWO ASI178MC camera, 8-inch Sky-Watcher 200P Dobsonian<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Experiment with different equipment<\/strong><\/h2>
I’ve produced sketches below to show how Jupiter appears through different equipment: binoculars, small\/medium telescope and large telescope<\/p>
**Binoculars<\/strong><\/h3>**
$\"Sketch$
Sketch of Jupiter showing what it looks like through binoculars. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A pair of binoculars will reveal Jupiter and its four largest Moons.<\/p>
Night after night you will be able to observe the moons, tiny star-like points, change position as they orbit Jupiter.<\/p>
You\u2019ll also be able to catch the planet moving against the background stars.<\/p>
**Small\/medium telescope<\/strong><\/h3>** $\"Sketch$
Sketch of Jupiter showing what it looks like through a small\/medium telescope. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
In a small telescope, Jupiter is transformed into a yellow disc that looks appreciably flattened.<\/p>
You\u2019ll see a bright Equatorial Zone separating the main equatorial belts.<\/p>
With a medium telescope, look for bright structures in Jupiter’s larger South Equatorial Belt just following the Great Red Spot. A light-blue filter will help.<\/p>
Large telescope<\/strong><\/h3>
$\"Sketch$
Sketch of Jupiter showing what it looks like through a large telescope. Credit: Paul Abel<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Myriad fine, slowly changing details will be apparent when you observe Jupiter through a large telescope.<\/p>
You can study the small storms and clouds within the main belts and monitor subtle colour changes in the zones.<\/p>
Locate Oval BA, a small version of the Great Red Spot also in the South Tropical Zone.<\/p>
$\"A$
A view of the Great Red Spot and a massive storm called Oval BA in Jupiter’s atmosphere, as seen by the Juno spacecraft. Enhanced Image by Gerald Eichst\u00e4dt and Sean Doran (CC BY-NC-SA) based on images provided Courtesy of NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/SwRI\/MSSS<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Submit your Jupiter observations for science<\/strong><\/h2>
When you observe Jupiter through a telescope, don\u2019t just let your observations sit there doing nothing.<\/p>
You can send your data the Jupiter section of the British Astronomical Association<\/a> or the Society for Popular Astronomy<\/a>.<\/p>
Then your careful observations of Jupiter can be put into the body of scientific data on the planet.<\/p>
And you’ll be contributing real citizen science<\/a> that helps us all understand more about our Solar System.<\/p>
Jupiter is a planet that never disappoints: it\u2019s constantly changing and no two views are ever quite the same. It\u2019s a world that you can return to again and again.<\/p>
***Have you observed or photographed the planet Jupiter? Let us know how you got on by emailing*** ***contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n***
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