The sky around here last nigh was really rather clear & stable allowing Jupiter to really shine...pun intended.
The moons were putting on a real show at around 8:00 to 11:00 PM eastern US time. One was transiting the planets face, casting a shadow, while the other was maybe 40-50 seconds off of the limb, midway between a pole and the equator. There was a very pronounced 3D effect with the off-limb moon and planet when using the binoviewer. It got even more 3D looking when the transiting moon started to emerge from Jupiters face and stand against space. And just as the one moon was exiting transit, the shadow of the other moon started to appear as a little bite mark right at the top (bottom?) of the planets pole. The whole thing was thrilling actually.
Another thing I've noticed, especially last year when the view from here was along the plane of Jupiters moons orbit, is the moons disks are more distinctly circular when they are close together. Interesting visual effect.
Jeff
The moons were putting on a real show at around 8:00 to 11:00 PM eastern US time. One was transiting the planets face, casting a shadow, while the other was maybe 40-50 seconds off of the limb, midway between a pole and the equator. There was a very pronounced 3D effect with the off-limb moon and planet when using the binoviewer. It got even more 3D looking when the transiting moon started to emerge from Jupiters face and stand against space. And just as the one moon was exiting transit, the shadow of the other moon started to appear as a little bite mark right at the top (bottom?) of the planets pole. The whole thing was thrilling actually.
Another thing I've noticed, especially last year when the view from here was along the plane of Jupiters moons orbit, is the moons disks are more distinctly circular when they are close together. Interesting visual effect.
Jeff
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things" 8O