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Astronomy Ireland Public Watches
Jupiter
Thursday, 30th September at 8:00 pm
Locations Nationwide
Jupiter
Image Courtesy of NASA |
On Thursday, 30th of September from 8:00pm Astronomy Ireland will be hosting Jupiter Telescope Watches
in various locations all around the country.
September represents a great month to observe Jupiter. It is favourably placed in the evening skies.
Astronomy Ireland will be setting up very powerful telescopes on the night which are open for all guests to use.
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Jupiter and the four Galilean Moons as seen at our last Jupiter Watch in September 2009
What to Expect
Along with the telescopes, the main Watch in Dublin will have Ireland's most powerful hand held laser to point out various elements
in the night sky. Volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer all your questions and teach guests how to find their way around
the sky using these powerful lasers. This will show you how to look for double stars, star clusters, the ISS
(International Space Station) and more.
The event also gives astronomers of all levels (beginners and experts) an opportunity to meet other astronomers,
to share their views and knowledge of astronomy with each other and maybe make some new friends.
The event is free and open to everyone. We would advise everyone to wrap up warm when coming along to the event as the evenings
can get very cool especially under clear skies which is what we always hope for.
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Locations
Astronomy Ireland Public Watches are regularly held at the locations below.
Please note that no locations have been confirmed yet - check back at a later date for confirmed locations
and your local Branch Coordinator's contact details.
There will also be a map and directions available to help you reach your local event.
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| Carlow |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Clare |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Cork |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Donegal |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Dublin |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Louth (Dundalk) |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Mayo (Castlebar) |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Sligo |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Tipperary |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Waterford |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
| Wexford |
Not yet confirmed |
MAP |
Jupiter
Jupiter is ideal for observation this month as it is well placed, in the East South East
as darkness falls. |
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Jupiter's Great Red Spot
Image courtesy of NASA |
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Facts about Jupiter
- Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in the Solar System.
- Jupiter's volume is equal to 1,321 Earths, yet is only 318 times as massive.
- Jupiter's broad magnetic field is 14 times as strong as the Earth's.
- The average distance between Jupiter and the Sun is 778 million km (about 5.2 times the average distance from the Earth to the Sun)
- It takes 4331.572 (11.86 years) earth days for the Jupiter to come around the Sun.
- One day on Jupiter is equal to 10 hours on Earth..
- Jupiter is named after the ancient King of Roman Gods.
- The best known feature of Jupiter is the Great Red Spot. It is a storm that has been going on for over 300 years. You can fit 100 earths into the Great Red Spot.
- Jupiter has 63 named moons. Almost all of them are less than 10 kilometres in diameter. he four largest moons, known as the "Galilean Moons", are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Ganymede, is the largest moon in the Solar System, measuring 5262 km across.
- Jupiter has a ring just like Saturn and Uranus.
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Jupiter's Galilean Moons
Callisto, Ganymede, Europa and Io (top to bottom)
Image courtesy of NASA |
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Jupiter in comparison to Earth
Image courtesy of NASA |
Reviews and Photos from Previous Watches
Mars Watch January 2010
Seabank, Dundalk, Co. Louth
"As I left the house to go to the Watch at Seabank, a snow shower covered the car and roads in a light blanket of snow.
The sky was cloudy and I wondered if the Watch would go ahead at all. Was this to be the first "White" Louth Watch in
seven years??
On arrival I set up my scope and soon after the first people started to arrive. Although the seeing was poor and
intermittent cloud cover made viewing difficult, gaps did occur and allowed observers the chance to see the polar cap
on Mars. Despite the fact that the moon was full, views of the mountains and rugged shape of its edge against the black
sky brought gasps of amazement.
Approximately 50 attended the event over the course of the night. Numbers would have been higher if it were not for the
cloud and icy road conditions. Everyone had a good night and as always special thanks go to those who brought telescopes
on the night - Pat Bellew, Maurice Kiely, Thomas Manning and Caeilte Reid.
As dew and frost was forming on the telescopes and to protect from frostbite, at 10.30pm we "called it a night" and
headed for home!"
- Derek Watters, Astronomy Louth Branch Coordinator
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All images courtesy Derek Watters (Click to
enlarge)
Click HERE to see a list of other exciting Astronomy Ireland Events coming soon.
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