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BAA electronic bulletin No. 00517 http://www.britastro.org/
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Jupiter at its closest opposition
Jupiter is now a brilliant sight throughout the night. At opposition
in a few days time, it will be at its closest distance for 47 years,
so the disk appears larger than at any time since 1963. It is also at
its highest declination this year than at any time since 2004, so it
appears higher in the sky (for observers north of the tropics).
Uranus is also at opposition on the same day.
Specifically, Jupiter reaches minimum distance (3.95393 AU) on Sep.20d
21h, and maximum phase angle (178.4 deg) on Sep.21d 12h. Uranus
reaches minimum distance (19.08816 AU) on Sep.20d 20h, and maximum
phase angle (179.2 deg) on Sep.21d 17h. Uranus is 1 degree N of
Jupiter; the two planets have exactly the same right ascension on
Sep.22d 19h. (Data from the JPL Ephemeris Generator)
Jupiter now looks very unusual in a telescope, as one of the major
belts - the South Equatorial Belt - has become covered with bright
cloud, so it has almost disappeared. At the same time, the Great Red
Spot (at L2 = 155) has become very prominent and red. This aspect has
been seen at irregular intervals throughout jovian history, but the
change has never been so complete since 1990. The revival of the SEB
always starts with a vigorous outbreak of spots at a single location,
which spreads around the planet, producing a dramatic and
rapidly-changing spectacle. This could start at any time this year or
next, so observers should be on the alert for any unusual new spot in
the SEB, and report it to the undersigned at once. (However, there are
several stable dark spots within the SEB, marking the locations of
small, now-obscured cyclonic circulations, so please check whether a
spot is really new.)
We will release a detailed interim report within the next week, by
e-mail to those on the Section mailing list, and then on the Section
web site.
If you can take images of the planet, or make good drawings of it,
please e-mail them to the undersigned. Please consult the guidelines
on the Section web site. Also contact the undersigned if you would
like to be added to the Jupiter Section e-mailing list.
John Rogers
BAA Jupiter Section Director
jhr11 -at- cam.ac.uk
http://www.britastro.org/jupiter
======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletins service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org
Bulletin transmitted on Mon Sep 20 09:46:26 BST 2010
(c) 2010 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================
-- BAA electronic bulletin No. 00517 http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================
Jupiter at its closest opposition
Jupiter is now a brilliant sight throughout the night. At opposition
in a few days time, it will be at its closest distance for 47 years,
so the disk appears larger than at any time since 1963. It is also at
its highest declination this year than at any time since 2004, so it
appears higher in the sky (for observers north of the tropics).
Uranus is also at opposition on the same day.
Specifically, Jupiter reaches minimum distance (3.95393 AU) on Sep.20d
21h, and maximum phase angle (178.4 deg) on Sep.21d 12h. Uranus
reaches minimum distance (19.08816 AU) on Sep.20d 20h, and maximum
phase angle (179.2 deg) on Sep.21d 17h. Uranus is 1 degree N of
Jupiter; the two planets have exactly the same right ascension on
Sep.22d 19h. (Data from the JPL Ephemeris Generator)
Jupiter now looks very unusual in a telescope, as one of the major
belts - the South Equatorial Belt - has become covered with bright
cloud, so it has almost disappeared. At the same time, the Great Red
Spot (at L2 = 155) has become very prominent and red. This aspect has
been seen at irregular intervals throughout jovian history, but the
change has never been so complete since 1990. The revival of the SEB
always starts with a vigorous outbreak of spots at a single location,
which spreads around the planet, producing a dramatic and
rapidly-changing spectacle. This could start at any time this year or
next, so observers should be on the alert for any unusual new spot in
the SEB, and report it to the undersigned at once. (However, there are
several stable dark spots within the SEB, marking the locations of
small, now-obscured cyclonic circulations, so please check whether a
spot is really new.)
We will release a detailed interim report within the next week, by
e-mail to those on the Section mailing list, and then on the Section
web site.
If you can take images of the planet, or make good drawings of it,
please e-mail them to the undersigned. Please consult the guidelines
on the Section web site. Also contact the undersigned if you would
like to be added to the Jupiter Section e-mailing list.
John Rogers
BAA Jupiter Section Director
jhr11 -at- cam.ac.uk
http://www.britastro.org/jupiter
======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletins service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org
Bulletin transmitted on Mon Sep 20 09:46:26 BST 2010
(c) 2010 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Web: http://lyra.freewebsites.com/
--
Information: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/LOWESTOFT---3054/Lowestoft%20And%20Great%20Yarmouth%20Regional%20Astronomers%20(Lyra
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