Veiwing Jupiter for the first time!

[Rjhere]

I went to a buddy of mine app. 22:00, and stayed there until 01:00. When I looked up, I saw a very bright star right next to the moon, and a thought that it had to be Jupiter. After a little ride in my other buddy's car, I got home and ran to get my approximately new telescope, which is a Skywatcher Startravel with a 90mm EQ2 mount. I bought it right about a month ago.

I got it out and immediately started veiwing Jupiter, began correcting the finder scope with the lowest magnification, and I instantly saw it. Jupiter appeared as a bright spot with two darker belts in it, and four other dimmer dots of light, which where the four galilean moons.

I saw them in this order from left to right: Callisto, Ganymede, Jupiter, Europa and Io. This I checked with this site: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/3307071.html#

Europa soon traveled in front of Jupiter, making it impossible for me to see it, although I couldn't see the eclipse shadow on Jupiter.

Later on I tried the best magnification i could get, with a barlow lens (2x) and the 10mm lens, I think I get around 130-140 magnification. When I did that, I could see three or four darker cloud belts on Jupiter, but it might just be me. But overall I think Jupiter were a little too bright too view further detail on the planet. I will get some filters (colour, light pollution, polarizing, moon, planetary and sun filters) to get more out more detail of my telescope. I will also buy a camera adapter for it.

From my position in Norway, Uranus and Neptune within range, but because there's too much light pollution around, I have to go to somewhere else to view them.

Overall I am greatly satisfied with my views, and can't wait until next time! My ultimate goal is to maybe begin with astrophotography. I am aware that the EQ2 mount is below the ground for longer exposures, but I will try!

I just wanted to share this experience with all you other space enthusiasts

[lajoswinkler]

Congrats, it's a great feeling.

You can look for Saturn and Venus, they're quite low in the sky after the sunset. Not a terribly nice position, but you'll catch a glimpse if the sky is clear.

You don't need clear skies for Uranus. It's visible with binoculars. Neptune might require a visit to the countryside. I don't know your expectations, but I'd be happy to see a tiny faint disc.

Mars is visible in the dawn with the naked eye.

[Rjhere]

Yea, I know that Saturn, Venus and Mercury is visible early in the evening, but not from where I have the telescope. There's a small hill right behind the house, which blocks it.

I will try look for Uranus whenever i get the chance, though the weather doesn't look to be co-operating with me today, despite being perfect last night. It sucks that Neptune is so faint because it's my favorite planet. Mars though are actually right somewhere Jupiter is, a little to the left.

With Mars, Uranus and Neptune, they are just disks of light tinted to their relative colours. Though Mars is is capable of showing detail at it's closest point enlignement with Earth. If your'e lucky that is. Mercury and Venus just showes phases.

Clear skies everyone!

[RogueMason]

I caught Jupiter a few weeks ago with my Celestron Astromaster 130EQ-MD (fantastic telescope, especially for the price of £160).

I woke up unusually early, 5:00 in the morning, and I saw an abnormally bright star, and thought immediately that this was my chance to look at my first planet. At first, I wasn't quite sure if I was looking at Jupiter. I had a feeling it may have been Venus, but the little dots to the left were making me think otherwise, plus I could have sworn I was seeing some stripes on the orb. A check-up on my astronomy software confirmed that it was, in fact, Jupiter. I'd just gazed at my first planet

I took a few pictures over a few days, in a completely amateur fashion as I have no specialist camera mounting equipment. This one is the best I've taken, clearly showing the moons floating around this bright orb in the sky:

I also tried to capture Neptune when it was supposedly in view, but the fact that my favourite gas/ice giant is so far away and I live very near a city meant that I just couldn't track it down at all. Oh well, I will move out to the countryside some day. Jupiter is the only planet I've spotted so far, courtesy of the UK weather

I'll also be looking into extra equipment for my telescope; lenses with greater magnification, filters, etc., but right now, I'm very much content with the base model.

The Moon is also stunning to look at. So much detail

[Rjhere]

Yes, that is Jupiter. And I think the Moons you see are, left to right, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa on the other side. Atleast you got a much better photo than me. Wat did you take that photo with?

Also I too considered that telescope, but since I could get mine refractor in a local store, I just went for it. I also heard that a 90mm refractor is equal in visual quality of the objects to a 130mm newtonian telescope.

A tip is not to get a lens with a greater magnification. I think you get better quality with a barlow lens. But i'm not too sure. Might be vice versa. I didn't get that good pictures of Jupiter with my Samsung Galaxy S2.

The feeling you get when you look at your first planet... It brought a tear to my eye! It was simply an epic moment.

[SolarLiner]

I was 7 when I first saw Jupiter though a telescope. Damn I remember seeing the colored bands and tiny dots around ... That was epic !

[Dockillar]

Nice, My favorite planet to look at is Saturn. One night I even got a clear look at Titan and a few other moons in the same view. Sadly I dont have the right specs to snap pictures of it and it's moons. Hopefully I can get a look at Jupiter it's moons before the winter starts here.

[RogueMason]

Yes, that is Jupiter. And I think the Moons you see are, left to right, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa on the other side. Atleast you got a much better photo than me. Wat did you take that photo with?

I used a Nikon Coolpix L22. If you're not looking for professional photography equipment, it's a very good camera that produces high-resolution images.

[Rjhere]

Nice! My dad says i can borrow his Canon EOS 400D or something. Just need the adapter!

[Camacha]

I always use Star Chart (for Android) to double check what I am looking at. It is easy to carry around and helps you practise your planet recognising skills.

[Rjhere]

I just saw the Andromeda, AND the Triangulum galaxy in my scope!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GAOWD, IV'E BEEN SEARCHING FOR ANDROMEDA FOR A MONTH, UNTIL I REALIZED THE FIRST POINTER STAR I LOOKED FOR IT FROM, WAS THE MIRACH STAR I WERE SEARCHING FOR.

I am now Atronomer lvl: 2

Ive also located the Triangulum constellation and the one below Cassiopeia and to the right of Andromeda!

Now that I think of it, should I start a astronomy blog? I have been wanting to start a KSP gaming series on youtube for a while, and maybe include a astronomy blog in there somewhere? I think it would be fun!