Students used the Observatory on Saturday night to view Jupiter and the Full Moon. We were amazed to see that the cloud bands and 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter were clearly visible. Students trialled some astrophotography while there and captured some quite good images of Jupiter and the Moon. These images are a little 'raw' at the present time but as we become familiar with the camera exposure times and focal ability of the telescope this should improve.
Jupiter Images by Colin Rayment (Year 8) and Peter Tybingoompa (Year 10). Using a Pentax Km Digital camera with a 1 second exposure piggy-backed onto the 13mm eyepiece.
Moon images by Colin Rayment (Year 8) and Peter Tybingoompa (Year 10). Using a Pentax Km digital camera with 1/45 exposure mounted direct to telescope no eyepiece magnification.
Our next challenge will be the Great Nebula in Orion.
But before we get to the Orion nebula we have been able to capture some photos of one of Jupiter's Galilean moons, Eurpoa, coming into transit. Transit is where the body (in this case the moon Europa) passes across the face (passes infront of) the other object (in case Jupiter). These photos were taken by Jake Penna, Dale Perrett and Jacob Darcy and show the tiny moon as it approaches the edge of the gas giant Jupiter.
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| Jupiter with the tiny moon Europa (small light spot at about 10 o'clock and there are 2 other moons just in the bottom of the frame about centre). |
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| Jupiter - this image shows the Great Red Spot on the right cloud band about centre, Europa is not visible against the disc of the planet. |
