Planet Jupiter - your homework for the school holidays

[Skywatcher]

Ok I'm not the only one witha camera on thi site and tonitght it is going to be clear and moonless so planets are off the menu but over the next few weeks - 7-8, Jupiter is going to reach 'opposition' which means the time of year whn it is biggest and brightest in the nights sky.

It currently rises in the South of England at about 9.30 - 10 pm in the Southeast and skirts the rooftops to the south over the night - it wont get very high but much better than last year (the higher the better)

It is an unmistakeable huge bright star like object it almost looks like a disc with the naked eye - it will not twinkle

If anyone has a camera with manual focus and manual shutter speed and a tripod you should be able to take a pic that will show the planet and 1 or 2 of its moons - ANY DSLR will be able to do this with pretty much any size lens

1 Focus - thiis is the tricky partwind the focus all the way out and then back a smidge - take plants of test shots until the stars and planet are in focus

2. practice with different ISO and shutter lengths - too short and you wont get anything too long and you will get 'trailing as the earth is spinning too fast

it is easy and I look forward to seeing your efforts

Keith I am looking in your direction young man.......

Last year when there was a cnjunction I took this in the back garden with the 350d and the lens that came with the camera

from getting home to setting up and taking the pic took 15 minutes

If you look at Jupiter (top right) it may look like just a blob but the tiny blobs next to it are 2 of its moons!!!

Have a pop I'd love to see your efforts

[Dawn]

[ukwdwnut]

oooooooo cool i will be out there tonight....thx chris

[Keith]

Keith I am looking in your direction young man.......

I know you are but I just can't find anything! I'm utterly useless. I think I need a skywatcher one-to-one observation tutorial

I'll get out there and try though!

[ukwdwnut]

I know you are but I just can't find anything! I'm utterly useless. I think I need a skywatcher one-to-one observation tutorial

I'll get out there and try though!

i think we need a skywatcher home meet tutorial

[Skywatcher]

If and when I move to my dream house in the country with dark skies you will al be most welcome

best time to look tonight if you have clear skies will be around midnight to the south southeast - it will look like a beacon and like nothing else in the sky

me- I'll be doing nebulas tonight if all the gear works

[ukwdwnut]

do you need help with the mortgage

doubt we will get clear skies tonight. the heavens have just opened and we now have a thunderstorm

[mumof2]

oh cool, Jupiter time!

You could do tutorial workshops at your dream home in the country! I'll come!

[Dawn]

I fell asleep on the sofa.

[lozzy]

If and when I move to my dream house in the country with dark skies you will al be most welcome

best time to look tonight if you have clear skies will be around midnight to the south southeast - it will look like a beacon and like nothing else in the sky

me- I'll be doing nebulas tonight if all the gear works

It is amazing to look up in the night sky when there are no street and house lights, hope you get your dream home. I'll be visiting.