Did anyone look at Jupiter last night? I had a quick look when I remembered about 8-9pm. Lots of light pollution so no other stars in the sky but I did manage to see Jupiter. It just looked like a slightly bigger round star. I had a good look for a while but then clouds covered it on and off.
I tried using some binoculars that I got from collecting Robinson's fruit juice tokens as a kid (weirdly I used to have a tennis racket acquired in the same manner) but I still couldn't make out any details. Couldn't make out any details of the atmosphere and I couldn't see it's moons or anything which isn't surprising really.
@ralphdibny you can see some of it’s moons with a pair of 10/50 binoculars and Jupiter itself will look bigger but I doubt you’d resolve any detail without a telescope. Was yesterday particularly good for viewing or something?
@kyleforrester87 it was Monday but yeah, according to various news sources, Jupiter was "in opposition" which means that Earth is directly between it and the Sun. But added to that is that Jupiter was closer to Earth than it has been in 59 years and it won't be that close for another for another 70 years or something (can't find a source for that second figure)
I think it's still visible in the night sky for a while longer though, everyone was banging on about Monday in particular for seeing it and it's moons.
One article said you should be able to see it's moons with mid range binoculars so I'm not surprised my 25 year old fruit juice binoculars didn't make anything out! I also have some theatre binoculars so I could have tried them 😆
Weather conditions weren't great anyway, lots of clouds and light pollution meant that views were fleeting in my area. But having no other stars in the sky at least made it easier to know what I was looking at
@ralphdibny Apparently the banding may be visible with a pair of decent binoculars so I might try and take a look. I have seen it in the past with my old telescope and it is genuinely amazing to be honest. I could make out the rings on Saturn, too. Mind blowing tbh. You even take for granted how amazing the moon looks up close through a telescope, especially part way through a phase when the shadows hit the craters. Dramatic stuff.
So anybody who doesn't know I live in Florida and am directly in the path of the incoming hurricane and I am seriously concerned about my house getting flooded. We got sandbags all over but in my area we could be expecting as much as six feet of flooding. Wish me the best I need it. I won't be home when the it lands directly in our path in case anyone is telling me to evacuate. I will be stuck at my workplace the whole time which is fine it's in the middle of prison facility so it's as safe as anywhere and my wife is currently at my parents house which is much more safe and secure than my place so I am not concerned for either of our safety I just fear my home being damaged. I really can't afford to have that happen right now.
Born too early to explore space and born too late to explore Earth, but born just in time to explore memes.
@Th3solution let me know if you do! What state are you in out of interest? (If you don't mind sharing that info, I completely understand if not) Is there a lot of light pollution where you are?
I've only seen a clear night sky once when I was on a trip to Cornwall. So many stars and red whispy galaxies and nebula. It frightened me equally as much as it amazed me. I'd love to move somewhere like that and see it every night.
@kyleforrester87 sounds really awesome. I may invest in a telescope in many years when I live somewhere with better views. It probably wouldn't become a proper hobby but it would be nice to have the tools to actually observe space.
Are you a bit of an astronomer then? I used to love that sort of thing as a kid but never really picked it up as an adult even though I still love space themed media.
I think the thing with seeing Jupiter and Saturn is that they are close enough to Earth to feel real. More real than stars that are light-years away. I know it's all real but the proximity of planets in our solar system make them feel almost tangible (even if I can't actually touch them). Just makes it even more mind blowing.
@ralphdibny yeah I mean, planets you can actually see details of are more interesting to me for obvious reasons versus spotting stars and constellations and so on, at least at my current level I.e. “level 1 astronomer”!
I am interested in it, but it’s a hard thing to do from your garden in London and just having a good scope is one thing but you need the right tripod, a good viewing point, the right knowledge, patience and the willingness and time to get up early and sit in a cold field in the middle of December. Honestly, I think it’ll be something I get into a bit more when I am older/retired, all being well.
I am more keenly interested in photographing the moon, planets etc. through telescopes, but again that requires the same plus even more equipment.
No, a £50 pair of 10/50 bins is all you need to make out some pretty cool things in the night sky.
I have a cheap monoscope too which I take out on my bike occasionally for spotting. Took the below picture through the monoscope with my camera phone the other day, nothing special and hard to get a shot in perfect focus just by holding both items together.
I do quite like lenses and being able to observe in more detail!
@ralphdibny this is quite interesting/“interesting” too, couple of photos I took of stone henge from a distance, the first with my camera phone and the second with my camera phone held up to the monoscope.
And one more of me looking like a bada$$ peeking through my monoscope, because this is the chit chat thread 😜
@kyleforrester87
My dad got really into astronomy when I was younger and got a really fancy telescope that is powerful enough you could see distant galaxies. I promise I am not exaggerating here, but you could basically see the Apollo 11 Eagle module if you pointed that monster at the moon at the right time of year in the right place. It was quite something.
Born too early to explore space and born too late to explore Earth, but born just in time to explore memes.
@kyleforrester87 haha it's probably a hard thing to do for most people to just have a garden in London these days. Some really nice photos there, both of the moon and Stonehenge!
My colleague was showing me videos taken on a camera which I think was called a Nikon Coolpix 1000 that had a ridiculous zoom on it. People did actually manage to make out Jupiter's atmosphere and the rings of Saturn on that one!
I'll keep that in mind re: the binoculars. Maybe a wise first investment for me!
Many thanks and an update for everyone who showed concern for my well being during the hurricane. I spent the night at my work place where we all slept on mattresses in the offices. I had enough time this morning after the hurricane had blown over before the next shift to go check on my home and everything is completely unscathed. I was even lucky enough to still have power when apparently most homes that got hit were not so lucky. Everyone else is fine as well.
Born too early to explore space and born too late to explore Earth, but born just in time to explore memes.
Forums
Topic: The Chit Chat Thread
Posts 7,101 to 7,120 of 9,740
Please login or sign up to reply to this topic