Best Jupiter Obs Yet

I am almost afraid to post this one. First off, it was just booming with detail and color. When I looked down, I realized I had more features and notes that usual. And, my girlfriend got to peek in time to see Ganymede hide behind Jupiter.

Our typhoon seemed to blow away in two short days and the skies opened up without much notice. Beautifully clear, good seeing but a little erratic. The good periods didn't hold long, but it held about 8/10 most of the time.

Okay, the colors were simply bombastic. The best I have ever seen them. I particularly was amazed at how the blues mixed with the browns in the NEB. That gave way to a distinct ruddy color. That in turn gave way to a pretty strong tawny NTrZ. And for the first time ever, the GRS was actually orange! Cripes, I nearly feel off my observing chair. Unfortunately, oval BA did not show much color. The monolith following BA had an ape next to it.

The EZ was pretty plain Jane in terms of detail. The EB was weak. But it held a light grey hue with maybe a touch of tawny. Likewise, the SEB had all the usual suspects.

One thing I thought was beautiful to witness, however, was the way the GRS rift appears as it comes across the CM as opposed to the more compact limb aspect. On the limb, they look pretty straight forward, on the meridian they are clearly thinner features with an obvious swept appearance toward the following limb.

The entire NEBn is awash with soft gray clouds. Two brighter rift-lets were spotted. BUT! The NNTB was poking out into the gray NTZ. Now, I am not sure what is going on right near the jetting piece, but something is happening. It kept hinting at some feature there. Gonna watch that area.

Oh! As of earlier tonight, I had exactly three white oval spotted to my credit over the last two years. Today, chalk up two more in one night! One was a repeat, though. That's just fine. Those are small and hard to see. But, maybe once you realize this, they are more often seen. Maybe, but they are still very difficult.

Some banding in the southern regions was quite nice. Oh, the STB is developing nicely as that darker belt rolls under the GRS. It's a little easier to see preceding the GRS. Did I mention the GRS was friggin orange? Crikey.

Anyway, my best Jupiter experience to date. I mean, to date. I am still just amazed at seeing the ruddy NEBn and an orange GRS. That's a first.

Time was 1530-ish (I observed for another hour after the sketch and Ganymede had not quite set behind Jupiter) so the System I was 239 and II was 154. The usual compliment of eyepeices were used, UO 18mm HD Ortho (174x), 1.6x Barlow, no filter.

Crikey! Either I am totally nuts, or Jupiter is really beautiful. Maybe both.

Norme.

Another beautiful Jupiter's sketch with lots of details.

Andre.

Wow.

Norme that's exquisite. The subtleties in the colors isn't missed here at all. The cream inner wren the neb and ntb is terrific and plays well against the other whites. The monolith I'm thinking is a sub arc second spot at least it seemed that way when I drew it. It was smaller than nearby Europa that night. I'm guessing its between 0.8-0.5 arc sec and closer to 0.5.

And the you hot Ganymede slipping into shadow. What a complementary observation of its emergence last time out.

What's particularly interesting here is that your sensitivity to color seems to have increased with your ability to detect finer and finer low contrast details. I'm quite sure this is your eye-brain skills developing - so much mental stacking!!

My two Grail objectives which I want to fulfill possibly Wednesday when it'll be clear are the white spots and that dandy morse code edge along the ntb. I'm coming to realize my oculars dewing over and me trying to believe its not there cost me the white spots so hopefully that'll be taken care of and they pop. I'll say though they used to be EASY in my 8 now... Well lemme see what anti dewing measures I can provide. I'd see the planet enter the field along with this halo but I think I bs'd myself into discounting it.

I swear these last two Obs have you in another league. Going to print em.

I'm curious about something, Eddgies seen the EZ having this whipped appearance of secondary details between the festoons and on the best nights I've seen it too tho not in years now. Have you ever gotten the secondary contrasts in the EZ? It's a true toughie but your skills ate out there!

Pete

Andre, thank you. It's becoming a passion.

Pete, not really sub structures. Sometimes I get the feeling the EB is very broad and maybe a bit molted. I really haven't displayed that well in previous sketches, maybe mentioned it. Don't remember.

On color, it has been a the next level for Jupiter. For whatever reason, it was very apparent last night, like no other night. Maybe training, maybe very good transparency. Maybe both. But, it kept me at the eyepiece much longer.

Those ovals are the grail for me, too. Only 3 to date have been seen. Last night pulling two from south of the GRS was amazing. They are so very small, much like the monolith, and not very good contrast. So, yea, maybe once you learn to recognize what to look for, they are a bit easier to, well, recognize. They held steady for a few seconds several times.

All in all, the best night with Jupiter ever, even though seeing has been a little better previously. I dunno, Pete, Jupiter is really just agreeing with me. Training, sure. Conditions, absolutely. Cooled and collimated, yep. All that just comes together nicely.

Norme,

These sketches of yours get as good as they can be and then they get better. You are sketching Jupiter beautifully.

Frank

Hi Norme,

No, you are not nuts. The J really IS beautiful and you are capturing it one piece at a time quite skillfully. I like the way the GRS is beginning to "pop" for you.



-stray-

Thank you all. Jupiter has been very kind this year, allowing me to look up her skirt, so to speak.

Yea, Stray, that GRS orange was just nutty. Never seen it so clearly. I guess Jupiter and I were in that proverbial zone.

Again an incredible detailed sketch!

What can I say, Norme, but WOW! The orange hues seem to really be showing for you...especially in the NEB. Beautiful.I see the same, or at least similar mottled appearance to the NTB region, although I am only catching "beads", while you are breaking them into individual features. I'm most impressed with your rendition of the NEB. Such delicate form with the eddies and ovals. And all that darn color variation!

I hope the typhoon didn't leave much damage in it's wake.

It was really an amazing thing, the typhoon crosses the Islands well south of us then turned north. Then died over relatively warm water. It reaped a little damage further south, kept us clouded out for about a week.

When the NEB settles with seeing, those finer details materialize briefly. Just gotta be there to catch them, I guess. Almost do not look forward to sketching the GRS, too much happening.

Thank you and Jeff for commenting. It was an amazing view, really and truly. Just do not know how to thank God enough for them.

Eddgies seen the EZ having this whipped appearance of secondary details between the festoon...

My apologies, I thought you asked about the EB. The EZ? Yes, I can see some very faint goings on, but it's difficult to really discern. It's a more broad stroked appearance than fine wisps, knots, or whatever. I have tried to illustrate something like that. But, as for the tangled web seen in images, na.

On ovals, they are extremely delicate features. Tonight, I caught two or three more. I think three. So, yea, knowing what to look for certainly helps. So does experience at the eyepiece. The appear almost as a lighter "line", but when seeing calms they resolve nicely.

Knowing where to look helps as well. We all know the southern hemisphere has a good share of them. Most of us realize there are some south of the GRS. Tonight, however, I had no landmark by which to expect them. However, I was still able to positively identify 3 more.

In fact, it dawned on me that I had been observing then confirming observations with images. It's getting to the point where I can spot white ovals and confirm someone's image is, indeed, correct.

Thing is, anyone can do so. It just takes training and some level of confidence in what you see.

Norme,
That's exquisite . Your selection of hue's , the detail and Ganymede starting to hide.

Norme,

Very good sketch of Jupiter .

CS,KLU,

,

Tom

Thank you, both.

Norme,

That is a superb sketch of Jupiter. Your eye for detail is impeccable. It's great to read your reports as you discuss your observations of the features. That marking on the NNTB is interesting. On your sketch it looks similar to the bluish festoon bases on the NEBs but smaller.

Thanks for posting. Dean

Dean, yea, that little knob protruding into the NTZ was interesting. Wonder if it will develop into something more. I am hoping you can observe it, too.

Thank you, sir, for your fine comment. I think it all boils down to the 6" just hitting that sweet spot in the seeing conditions here.

I just closed up shop. I sketched the same hemisphere you did. It'll be a good comparison!!!!!

Pete

That's cool, Pete. I am on fire for observing tonight. All hot under the collar about the color in the SEB. I been sketching it kind of bland, but that may not be the case. It might have some of that dirty cotton ball, or wenge (blue-brown,) hue to it.

Anothe stunning drawing Norme. I am jealous of your color seeing and rendering. Jupiter only gets to azimuth 30 degrees here, so that hampers observing some. Having to fight for what I am recording!

Me, too Ian. Seeing helps a lot, but not all of that is easy. Seeing just allows more time to go deeper. It still requires work. Er, fun, I mean.

Hi Norme,

Nice sketch, you recorded a lot of nice detail.

Best,

Eric Jamison

Thank you, Eric. It was a memorable night.