Jupiter in Opposition

Jupiter will be in Opposition today, 29^th October 2011. This means that the Sun, Earth and the planet Jupiter will be in a straight line, as the Sun sets in the west, the giant planet rises in the east. This gives us full night to observe the planet. From small aperture telescope to large telescopes Jupiter offers so much to observe. Jupiter will rise at 5:40pm in the beginning of the month of November and toward the middle of November, Jupiter will rise at 4:40pm and set at 5am. Towards end of November, Jupiter will rise at 3:30pm and set at 4am.

Jupiter spends all month in the border of constellation Aries and Pisces.

Here are times for observing Great Red Spot(GRS) on Jupiter. The timing is for GRS meridian transit, that is when the GRS is the middle of Jupiter's disc, the GRS can also be observed one hour before and after the transit times. All times are in IST.

Date				Time of GRS Meridian
Oct 29th				7:30pm
31st				01:10am
31st				09:00pm
Nov 02nd				2:50am
02nd				10:30pm
3rd				4:30am
3rd				6:30pm
5th				00:30am
5th				8pm
7th				2am
7th				9:40pm
9th				3:30am
9th				11:30pm
10th				7:20pm
12th				1am
12th				9pm
14th				2:40am
14th				10:30pm
16th				4:30am
17th				00:30am
17th				8pm
19th				2am
19th				9:40pm
21st				3:30am
21st				11:10pm
22nd				7pm
24th				1am
24th				8:45pm
26th				2:30am
26th				10:30pm
27th				6pm
28th				4am
29th				00:10am
29th				8pm

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First light of ATM workshop telescope

It was a nice evening at ABAA on Sunday 19th, as the first telescope of this year's ATM workshop saw the first light. The 6 inch telescope mirror was ground and polished by ATM workshop participant Amrutha. The skies were pretty decent, as shiva prasad described it, with very little haze. Later the haze also cleared. The First object the telescope observed was Moon, in gibbous stage. Members and ATM participants enjoyed observing moon's surface and few photos were taken, thanks to Anita and her iPhone 3GS.

Next was the giant planet Jupiter. Witnessing the transit of IO on the surface of Jupiter and wonderful sight of emergence of IO was a good experience.

Congratulations to Amrutha for completing the telescope. In coming couple of Sundays all the telescope will see the first light.

Moon taken through Amrutha's telescope with 9mm eyepiece. Camera is Anita's iPhone 3GS.

Another pic of Moon taken through Amrutha's telescope again with 25mm eyepiece. Camera is Anita's iPhone 3GS.

Vinay trying to photograph Moon with his mobile phone. Anita and Shiva waiting to see the result.

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