Peek a Boo With Jupiter

Observing Site: Canton, GA
Observing Date: 05/11/2006
Observing Time: 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Seeing: 1 (the worst)
Transparency: 1 (the worst)
Equipment: 5\" Celestron f10

Given the cloudy conditions, unstable atmosphere, and almost full moon. Tonight was a bad night for observing. Most of the stars were washed out by the moon, or hidden by the clouds. Why bother? Well, being this has been the closest night I've had in almost two weeks, I had to try.

With new poster board - dew shield in hand (modify the solar filter instruction for Sidewalk Astronomy, San Francisco. Found in the how to section of our web page.) I headed out to the night sky.

The Waxing Gibbous (http://www.earthsky.org/skywatching/tips_moonphases/waxinggibbous.php) moon was interesting. It was different to see wisp of clouds move between me and the scope. Every once and while the moon would be completely blotted out by the clouds. There were several craters to be seen at the terminator , but no sign of any mountain ranges. The extra detail would fade in
and out.

I spent more time looking at clouds than at Jupiter. When the Solar System's largest planet final appeared from behind the trees I quickly set my sights on it. Three of Jupiter's any moons were out: Io, Callisto, and Ganymede. I even managed to separate the Northern and outhern band which really surprised me. Most of the time it was just one band.

I turned my scope to Mizar and Alcor (optical double) the middle star(s) in the handle of the Big Dipper. The two stars quickly became four. Given the light I was getting from the moon I was surprised at separating Mizar A and Mizar B. A binary star system. The fourth star Sidus Ludoviciana has a very interesting history. It seems a German astronomer mistook it for a planet.

Saturn was the last part of my tour. Saturn's moons had been washed out by Earth's moon. I separated the rings easily enough, but could not get any detail

As for the poster board dew shield. It did its job. No dew on the corrector plate. Which surprised me, given the heavy amount of due on the round.

OokoiiMamoru (Ed)