Category: Planetary

Jupiter’s New Facial Feature

Jupiter’s New Facial Feature

Jupiter with Wesley Comet Impact Scar
Sketch and Details by Juan Perez

OBJECT: Planet Jupiter
DATE: July 29, 2009
TIME: 1:30 LST / 8:30 UT
LOCATION: Harquahala mtns, near Aguila Arizona USA
INSTRUMENT: Celestron CPC1100 w/ 40,32,25 and 10mm Plossl’s
DETECTOR: Visual sketch
MAGNITUDE: -2.8
WEATHER: Clear sky, moderate winds, temp. 95deg F
COMMENTS:

After the monsoon season, We’ve had some very cooperative days or nights in the sense of clear and dark skies for those of us here in Arizona. Of course most of you know, the
impact scar first found on Jupiter by the Australian amateur astronomer has now been seen by virtually everyone interested in this field or hobby. I finally got a chance to haul my
CPC 1100 to a dark and remote site in the Harquahala mountains.
At sunset, I began to set up but had to wait and give Jupiter a chance to rise higher from the horizon and to lessen the effects that turbulent hot air has on the seeing.
Patience and counting Aquarids helped me kill a few hours while allowing Jupiter to rotate and start showing its scar. My attempt at searching took several tries since I could not detect the tiny blotch or dark patch on the Southern Polar Region. Once it came into view, I waited for it to position itself in front of the planetary disk.(about 1:30 am LST)
The scar is easily detectable with the CPC 1100, I used various Plossl’s interchangeably to get different views and details. Tha scar has taken and elongated appearrance and seems to be in the vicinity of 5 or 6 arcseconds in length. North from the impact site is a noticeable white round storm very small in comparison to the scar.Two and a half or so hours later, the scar
rotated out of view and the show was over but, the visual experience and excitement will last for many days. I hope the impact scar can linger for many more days too so that more people can have a chance to look and enjoy this -out of this world- phenomenon.
By the way, I counted over 60 Aquarids in the span of about 5 hours !! “juanchin”

Jupiter and Wesley Impact Scar

Jupiter and Wesley Impact Scar

Jupiter and Wesley Impact Scar
Sketch and Details by Michael Rosolina

I am happy to add to the record of this historic event. I was fortunate to finally get the opportunity after several false starts. The drawing was done at the eyepiece with HB and 2B pencils and a blending stump on photocopy paper. Other notes are with the sketch.

Jupiter and Wesley Impact Scar
Planet
Friars Hill, WV USA
28 July 2009

Michael Rosolina

Wesley Comet Impact Scar on Jupiter

Wesley Comet Impact Scar on Jupiter

Wesley Comet Impact Scar on Jupiter
Sketch and Details by Dale Holt

In response to your call for sketches of the very
exciting Jupiter impact Scar. It seems that I just caught it
yesterday morning 03.20 ut. Not a stunning drawing by any means but
a personal record that I shall cherish.

Warmest regards, Dale

Newtonian view South is up

Webmaster’s note: Sketchers are very much encouraged to submit their observations of the WCIS to ASOD so that we can help document this amazing event.

Mother of the Perseids

Motjher of the Perseids

Comet Swift-Tuttle
Sketch and Details by Per-Jonny Bremseth

Hey!

Send you, “comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseides mother”.

This comet is associated with the famous meteorstream
Perseides, which will peak at maximum 12. august each year.
Comet Swift-Tuttle was seen as a bright comet in 1862 and
returned in 1992. The comet was also perhaps the same as the
one observed in 1737 (Kegler).
I was happy to observe the comet. It was active with structures
of Jets.
I made this drawing with Crayons (water colours) on black paper
(not inverted).
The seeng and the atmospheric quality was very good.
more info on my drawing!

The observation was done 6 km outside Trondheim city, Norway.

Best wishes from Per-Jonny Bremseth.

Jupiter with Impact Scar

Jupiter with Impact Scar

Jupiter with Impact Scar
Sketch and Details by Jeremy Perez

On July 19, 2009, amateur astronomer and planetary imager, Anthony Wesley discovered a striking new feature on Jupiter. A dark spot had suddenly appeared in the south polar region. Although it might have been a new weather feature, it actually appeared very similar to the impact scars created when fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 struck Jupiter in July of 1994. Quick analysis by professional observatories confirmed that this new feature was indeed an impact scar.

Sleep deprivation and heavy clouds prevented me from attempting it visually on the morning of July 20th. But tonight I was able to spend time with Jupiter in hopes of seeing the feature as it transited a little after midnight local time (July 21). As the scope cooled down, I worked on adjusting my eyes to details in the cloud belts. By 12:10 AM, the seeing was improving, and Jupiter had rotated enough to make it clear that I was detecting a soft, dark spot near the southern pole. Through our own fluttering atmosphere, I was actually seeing the debris cloud of an immense impact on Jupiter that had happened perhaps as recently as two days ago.

Over the next 45 minutes, I sketched the position of the impact scar, and all the other features I could detect. In that time, the spot transited Jupiter and crept along steadily with planet’s rapid rotation. At times I’ve wished that I had taken up observing sooner so that I could have seen Shoemaker-Levy 9 pepper Jupiter with my own eyes. And what do you know, 15 years later, it’s been hit again.

Subject Jupiter with Impact Scar
Classification Planet
Position* Capricornus [RA: 21:50:07.2 / Dec: -14:10:38]
Size* 48 arcseconds (Equatorial diameter)
Brightness* -2.8
Date/Time JUL 21, 2009, 12:20 – 1:05 AM
(JUL 21, 2009, 07:20 – 08:05 UT)
Observing Loc. Flagstaff, Arizona, USA – Home
Instrument Orion SkyQuest XT8 Dobsonian (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L)
Eyepieces/Mag. Pentax XW10 + 2X Barlow (240X)
Conditions Mostly clear, humid
Seeing Ant. III
Transparency Mag 5.8 NELM
*Sources Starry Night Pro Plus 5.8.2

An Eagle’s Eye for Distant Mars

An Eagle’s Eye for Distant Mars

Mars at 10:15 UT on 
July 20, 2009
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I was able to make my first observation of Mars on July 20, 2009 (10:15 U.T.) using my 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain. I was excited to observe the red planet once again after the last opposition. I hope to follow Mars as much as possible.

Date (U.T.): July 20, 2009
Time (U.T.): 10:15
CM: 213.4*W
Ls: 306.7* (Mid-Martian Northern Winter/Southern Summer)
De:-7.1*, Ds: -19.6*, Phase 92%, Diameter: 5.2 arc-seconds
Instrument: 9-inch (23-cm) F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 379x
Filters (Wratten): 23A (Light Red)
Seeing(1-10): 5-6, Antoniadi (I-V): III
Transparency (1-6): 2/6 (Dawn)

Notes:
The South Polar Region (SPR) appears to be obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) haze. Mare Cimmerium appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) towards the south-preceding (Sp) limb. Electris, Eridania, and Ausonia appear dusky to bright (4-7/10). Zephyria, Aeolis, and Aethiopis appear bright (7/10). Amazonis and Arcadia appear mottled and dusky to shaded (4-6/10). Elysium, Aetheria, Libya, Cebrenia, and Panchaia appear bright (7/10). Syrtis Major appears as a thin, dusky (4/10) streak along the following limb and partially obscured by a very bright to extremely bright (8-9/10) morning limb haze (MLH). The North Polar Cap (NPC) appears brilliant (10/10) along the northern limb.

I was unable to make an observation of Mars using a blue (Wratten 38A) due to excessive sky lighting.

A digital image produced in Photoshop CS3. The best of luck in your observations of Mars.

Carlos

Welcome Io

Jupiter and his moons

Jupiter and his moons
Sketch and Details by Janusz Krysiak

Object Name:Jupiter and his moons
Object Type:Planets
Location:Koluszki(Poland)
Date:21.06.2009(1.50 a.m.)

medium: pencil, white paper
equipment: Newton 300/1500
magnification: 214x

Hi,
While I had been observing the sky between 1.30am and 2.00am on
21.06.2009. I saw something that amazed me. When I had been looking at
Jupiter I wasn’t able to find Io…, than I understood – it was hidden
behind Jupiter! I had been waiting untill Io showed itself. It was a
magnificent view!!! I just loved it!!! Here is a sketh that tries to
show You what I saw. I hope You like it.

Janusz Krysiak

Conjunction Captivation

Moon, Venus and Mars

Moon, Venus and Mars Conjunction
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I was able to observe the conjunction between the Waning Crescent Moon (25.7 days old), Venus (-4.21m), and Mars (1.14m) on June 19, 2009 (10:00 U.T.). I first noted the trio over in the eastern sky with the Moon approximately 34 degrees above the eastern horizon, Mars at ~29.5 degrees, and Venus at ~29 degrees. In the bright twilight sky Mars was a little difficult to pick out but once located it was easy to find. The sight was just as impressive using my Oberwerk 11 x 56 mm binoculars. Mars and Venus easily fitted in one binocular field. By combining three binocular fields I can place the trio as I noted them. I hope that others were able to view the conjunction as well.

Bino Moon Venus and Mars

Moon, Venus and Mars Conjunction through binoculars
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

Digital images produced in Photoshop CS3.

Carlos E. Hernandez

Beauty Cubed

Moon, Mars and Venus

Conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Mars on May 22nd, 2009
Sketch and Details by Carlos E. Hernandez

I was able to view a Waning Crescent Moon (~23 degrees above the eastern horizon), a brilliant Venus (-4.32m,~31* above the eastern horizon) and Mars (1.35m, ~27* above the eastern horizon) over a lavender to bluish-gray clouded horizon. The trio was impressive over the hazy sky.

A digital image produced in Gimp.

Carlos