Jupiter 03_11_2023 close to opposition but through cloud

 

Jupiter showing 3 moons left to right: Europa, Ganymede and Io.

Jupiter showing two moons: Europa and Ganymede.

Jupiter's disc showing its cloudy atmosphere with two equatorial bands clearly displayed.
North is up in our image.

" Our Instrumentation Engineer, Jolene McSquint Fleming, has been working very hard on the electrical systems at the Jodrell Plank Observatory and today power has been restored. Kurt has yet to reprogramme the LVST software defined radio telescope but has taken the opportunity to download data whilst the telescope has been off-line. Friend of the Observatory, Professor Chrissy H Roberts, has provided invaluable AI advice and time, which may well help to streamline the meteor data analysis process.

The weather took a turn for the better and on 03-11-2023 we were able to rig a temporary electrical supply to the NEQ6Pro mount and capture some Jupiter data using the Meade 127mm apo refractor, x3 Televue Barlow lens and the new QHY5111462c planetary video camera. The last image shown above is the clearest and is a 50% stack of 6000 frames subsequently processed using PIPP, AS3!, Registax6, AstroSharp, AstroClean and AffinityPhoto .2" - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

This image was from a stack of the last video clip of the night. (60% of 3000 frames) The high level cloud had dissipated and the atmosphere was at its most stable. Probably the best image of the evening with reasonable detail showing in the equatorial bands and zones. North is up. Credit: Pip Stakkert. 

Jupiter 2022

 

Jupiter and moons Europa and Io on the 6th of October 2022. Compilation of two stacks one using a 2x Barlow lens and one a 3x Barlow lens. 127mm Meade 500 Series Apo refractor and QHY5-llc planetary camera. Stacked and processed using PIPP, Registax6, AutoStackert3!, Fitswork4 ,Topaz DenoiseAI and Affinity Photo. Credit Kurt Thrust.  

"Our first attempt at capturing Jupiter this year. We were not convinced that the sky over Lowestoft was quite stable enough for capturing a sharp image of the largest of the Solar System's planets, but we think it turned out alright in the end." Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Europa credit:JPL NASA

Io credit:JPL NASA

Europa up close

 

Jupiter's Moon Europa credit for data :JUNO spacecraft NASA / SwRI / MSSS. Data reduction by Pip Stakkert at the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

"As our telescopes, Jupiter's low inclination and the weather preclude us imaging Jupiter's Galilean Moons other than as tiny discs, we decided to download data from NASA's JUNO spacecraft to create this rather beautiful picture of the Ice Moon Europa". - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory. 

The Icy Crust of Europa Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

"Europa presents an icy surface with a disrupted crust which betrays constant movement. Similar broken and rafted ice terrains may be found on Earth where sea ice forms on top of a subsurface ocean. It is considered very likely that underneath Europa's surface there lies a deep and planet wide ocean. The Hubble Telescope has detected intermittent plumes which appear to be associated with warmer areas on the surface of Europa. If this is the case then this might indicate water vapour venting from fissures in the icy crust. Europa is a possible candidate for harbouring microbial life". - Karl Seguine Community Outreach Coordinator at the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Plume erupting from Europa, March 17, 2014. Credit: NASA, ESA, W. Sparks (STScI), and the USGS Astrogeology Science Center

Compilation image to show JUNO in orbit around Jupiter Credit: Pip Stakkert