[Chaos-l] [Medoc-mountain-men] Jupiter and how

[Allen Davis]

BTW, sorry for my repeated typing of GSR not GRS......it was obviously
easier to type that!  I was typing fast and just getting it out not
thinking.  But you know what I mean!!!  allen

-----Original Message-----
From: Medoc-mountain-men [mailto:medoc-mountain-men-bounces at rapideye.us] On
Behalf Of Allen Davis
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 8:35 AM
To: 'North Carolina Observers That Chase Photons In Medoc Mountain State
Park'; 'Chapel Hill Astronomical Observation Society'
Subject: [Medoc-mountain-men] Jupiter and how

Well, Robert, Jason, and I were treated to some really show stopping views
of Jupiter last night at Medoc.  I arrived first..around 430pm..and slowly
started setting up.  A good refractor night (as if any night isn't) but
since the moon was coming up we knew that the bigger scopes could rest and
the refractors could shine.

 

Robert arrived just as it was getting dark and I was still making my round
trips to the trailer.  We decided ahead to set up in the clearing near the
shelter, since we could stay close to the fire.  Worked out great.

 

After getting set up and lined up, Jupiter was jumping around a bit when it
was low, but showed promise.  We looked at several deep sky objects before
la Luna showed her bright face.  M31 looked very nice through Robert's wide
field 106.  I looked at Caroline's Rose, with the Rose very evident.
Obviously not as many stars as in the big scope, but the dark lanes showed
well.  The Double Cluster nice framed with the Ethos 13.  (Parachute man was
upside down tonight)  A very nice triple star that was an 

Obvious H2O molecule in Roberts..in HIS cluster..in the vicinity of the
elephant trunk.  M15 was nicely resolved in my scope.proving that a really
good 6 inch refractor can act like a larger reflector.  Even in Robert's
smaller 106, it showed granularity to the core.  What else Robert?

 

We caught Io as it started to hide behind Jupiter and watched it slip away.
By that time, the seeing was improving, and Jupiter itself was showing more
detail.

 

We took a fire break and had a snack and some coffee (thanks Robert) and
went back.  As Jupiter rose higher and higher with each subsequent visit, it
was better and better.  We were able to start seeing ovals and festoons in
the middle belt, and the band between the two darkest started to become more
obvious as a thin ribbon.  Toward each pole, shading began to resolve into
numerous thin bands.  We were shooting toward 1100pm when the GRS was
supposed to rotate into view.

 

Going up to that, the seeing really steadied and we started seeing ovals in
the other band.  There was also a dark storm initially near the center of
the planet.  Edges of the bands started showing irregularities and ragged
edges.  

 

We saw the GSR starting to appear as an "absence" of dark banding.  We
confirmed that...and within a few minutes of watching I saw dark clouds
starting to appear toward the pole adjacent to the GSR.  Also views the
"scoop" of clouds around the other side of the GSR.  We decided to take one
more fire break and take another look...

 

When we returned the GSR fully visible.  Seeing was I would say an 8.5 to
9.0.  Maybe better at times.  GSR completely surrounded on pole side by a
wide rages half circle of darker clouds with a good amount of space between
that circle and the spot itself.  Obvious cloud circulation on the other
side of the GSR.  Numerous bright ovals in bands and a two particularly
bright areas along the meridian.  Pole banding now resolved.  We seen Io
reemerge as it "budded of" a bit earlier.

 

A really great night.  

 

The Ethos eyepieces proved they are terrific planetary eyepieces.  With my
aging eyes and a cataract in my right eye, my TMB's are harder to use.
Confirmed that the Ethos were their equal in resolution and contrast, even
with more elements.  Robert confirmed this.  INHO, they are worth their
price and are the best eyepieces I have ever used.


BTW, for me the 6MM ethos gave the best views.  At 203x

 

Robert and Jason and I enjoyed good conversation and camaraderie for a nice
evening of viewing.  Packed up and was home around 1230am.  

 

Good time had by all.

 

Wish more of you could have been there.  allen

 

E. Allen Davis

starstorm151 at embarqmail.com

 

"M'Illumino              "I am enlightened

D'Immenso"              by the immensity."

 

   -Ungaretti               -Ungaretti

 

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