Jupiter Observation (April 23, 2005)

I made an observation of Jupiter on April 23, 2005 at 05:00 U.T. using a 9-inch F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain. Much detail was noted over the disk, especially the NEB and SEB. Europa (II) was visible adjacent to the preceding limb at the approximate latitude of the South Tropical Zone (STrZ). I welcome any comments on my observation.

Date (U.T.): April 23, 2005
Time (U.T.): 05:00
L1 303.8, L2 247.9, L3 286.5
Instrument: 9-inch F/13.5 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification: 172x and 248x
Filters: None (IL)
Seeing (1-10): 5-7, Antoniadi (I-V): III-II
Transparency (1-6): 4

Notes:
South Polar Region (SPR): Appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled.
South Temperate Zone (STZ): Appears bright (7/10) and thin.
South Temperate Belt (STB): Appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) with an irregular northern border. No ovals were noted within it at this time.
South Tropical Zone (STrZ): Appears bright (7/10) without any other detail noted within.
South Equatorial Belt (SEB): Appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) with an bright (7/10), irregular zone over it's mid-section. The following half of the northern component of the SEB (SEB-N) appears dark (3/10) compared to a dusky to dull (4-5/10) preceding half.
Equatorial Zone (EZ): Appears bright (7/10) with dusky to dull (4-5/10) bands (extending from NEB-S blue festoons) over the middle of the zone.
North Equatorial Belt (NEB): Appears dark to dusky (3-4/10) and mottled. A bright to very bright (7-8/10) rift is noted towards the following limb extending north towards a very bright (8/10) spot which continues as a bright (7/10) band towards the following limb. Dark (3/10) blue festoons were noted along the southern border (NEB-S).
North Tropical Zone (NTrZ): Appears bright (7/10) without any detail visible within.
North Temperate Belt (NTB): Appears dark (3/10) and broad.
North Temperate Zone (NTZ): Appears bright (7/10) and thin.
North Polar Region (NPR): Appears dark to dull (3-5/10) and mottled.

Europa (II) appears over the preceding limb at the approximate latitude of the STrZ which will soon be occulted by Jupiter.

The best of luck in your own observations and imaging of the planets.

Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez

Attached Image:

Hi Carlos,

Great observation. I find it very interesting.

I'm wondering if you had found the festoons to be a hard read in that their point of origin on the NEBs is rather barge-like. I.E. dark, broad and flattened.

Your sketch of Jupiter's aspect is also very close to the last my uploaded sketch.

Thanks, SR

Another great sketch Carlos,I think Sol is right during this year Jupiter's festoons seem more subdued and seem to leak out of dark barges in the neb, I wonder if as time goes by the barges will get lighter and the festoons become more pronounced as more material flows into the E.Z.Again great sketch.

Carlos

Very Impressive! I really enjoy your work! Who made your telescope? Have you drawn Jupiter in color also?

Thanks
Bill

Thank you all for the kind compliments on my latest observation of Jupiter. The bases of the festoons along the NEB-S have been very prominent this apparition. My instrument was custom made for me by a talented optician, Michael Palermiti ( http://www.iteastronomy.com/ ). He makes diffraction limited instruments for very reasonable prices consdiering their quality. I have made color observations of Jupiter in the past but these observations take more time to put together. The monochrome observations are much quicker to make and send out.

Carlos