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ATM Another optics test - Jupiter's moons



Saturday night I had the chance to show my 4.25 inch f/11 optics at 
the local astro club meeting.  We observed with this scope a transit 
of (I think) Ganymede across the face of Jupiter.  This took place 
Sat. night in Louisiana, but that's about 0100-0330GMT, 17 Aug.

It was easy to see the shadow on Jupiter, but I was also surprised at 
how easy it was to see Ganymede on the face of the planet too!

Here's the question:  As a way to evaluate optics/observers/seeing 
conditions, are all the gallilean satellites equally easy/hard to see 
transiting the face of Jupiter?  If not, which ones are easier than 
others?  What's the smallest scope aperture you would need to see a 
moon against the backdrop of Jupiter?

No, this is not a quantitative test, but we do make telescopes for 
observing. . .don't we?  ;-)

Tom Krajci

Capt Tom Krajci
B-52 Intelligence Officer
"In God we trust, all others we monitor!"
http://spur.barksdale.af.mil