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Date: 05 Sep 2007 08:45:04
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Naked-eye Jovian Moons
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The possibility of observing one or more of the moons of Jupiter has come up
recently both here and in our astro club, and I found a reprint of an
article published in Sky&Tel in 1976 on the subject:
http://denisdutton.com/jupiter_moons.htm
Not mentioned in the article is the ancient Chinese astronomer Gan De, in
whose writings can be found references to Jupiter's moons.
Dennis
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Date: 05 Sep 2007 20:39:36
From: Dr J R Stockton
Subject: Re: Naked-eye Jovian Moons
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In sci.astro.amateur message <13dt967r9bhbf55@corp.supernews.com >, Wed,
5 Sep 2007 08:45:04, Dennis Woos <dpwoos@gmavt.net > posted:
>The possibility of observing one or more of the moons of Jupiter has come up
>recently both here and in our astro club, and I found a reprint of an
>article published in Sky&Tel in 1976 on the subject:
>
>http://denisdutton.com/jupiter_moons.htm
In that article is : "At mean opposition, the four satellites have the
following maximum angular seporations from the center of Jupiter, which
itself would be 47 seconds of arc in equatorial diameter: I, 138; II,
220; III, 351; and IV, 618 seconds."
IMHO, the actual angular distances between astronomical objects, where
not apparent under ordinary conditions visually, are little realised;
and should be better known. From the above, the Galilean satellite
system is not much smaller, as seen from here, than the Moon is; and
Cassini also gets quite an angular distance out.
--
(c) John Stockton, Surrey, UK. ?@merlyn.demon.co.uk Turnpike v6.05 MIME.
Web <URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ > - FAQqish topics, acronyms & links;
Astro stuff via astron-1.htm, gravity0.htm ; quotings.htm, pascal.htm, etc.
No Encoding. Quotes before replies. Snip well. Write clearly. Don't Mail News.
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Date: 05 Sep 2007 07:52:49
From: Chris L Peterson
Subject: Re: Naked-eye Jovian Moons
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On Wed, 5 Sep 2007 08:45:04 -0400, "Dennis Woos" <dpwoos@gmavt.net >
wrote:
>The possibility of observing one or more of the moons of Jupiter has come up
>recently both here and in our astro club, and I found a reprint of an
>article published in Sky&Tel in 1976 on the subject:
>
>http://denisdutton.com/jupiter_moons.htm
>
>Not mentioned in the article is the ancient Chinese astronomer Gan De, in
>whose writings can be found references to Jupiter's moons.
I've observed two or more of Jupiter's moons naked eye on quite a few
occasions. The trick is to block out Jupiter with a power line. Once
you've done that, it's often easy to see some moons.
_________________________________________________
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
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Date: 05 Sep 2007 18:20:38
From: Esmail
Subject: Re: Naked-eye Jovian Moons
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Chris L Peterson wrote:
>
> I've observed two or more of Jupiter's moons naked eye on quite a few
> occasions. The trick is to block out Jupiter with a power line. Once
> you've done that, it's often easy to see some moons.
cool .. I'll have to try that ..
There were posts here on s.a.a. in the past of young kids being able
to see them too.
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Date: 05 Sep 2007 14:50:02
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: Naked-eye Jovian Moons
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> I've observed two or more of Jupiter's moons naked eye on quite a few
> occasions. The trick is to block out Jupiter with a power line. Once
> you've done that, it's often easy to see some moons.
>
I think this is pretty cool and unexpected, as I thought (without actually
researching it) that this was extremely difficult to do - especially given
that I don't know anyone who claims to have seen any Jovian moons naked-eye!
Our club is doing a public observing tomorrow night, and I am going to check
if the elongations are favorable. I am definitely going to give this a try.
Thanks.
Dennis
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