2022 Jupiter Viewing

[Christopher K.]

HRPO patrons' first onsite glimpse of Jupiter will be during the Perseid Meteor Shower viewing which takes place on Friday 12 August. During the brief window of 11:45pm to 12am, those at HRPO will spy Jupiter at magnitude -2.8 as it rises above the east woodline in Cetus. Io will be on one side; the other three Galileans will be on the other side (in order Europa, Ganymede and Callisto).

[Christopher K.]

Jupiter's opposition viewing at HRPO will be on Monday 26 September from 9:30pm to 11:30pm CDT. This is the closest opposition of Jupiter since October 1963!

This is fairly exciting news. Jupiter and its four Galilean moons won't be seen at this proximity from Earth until October 2129.

More information:
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-n ... pposition/

[Christopher K.]

HRPO's front gate and main building will open at 9:15pm CDT. Below is the NOAA forecast for HRPO's planned viewing time of 9:30pm to 11:30pm...
precipitation potential, 0%
sky cover, 0%
relative humidity, 58%
temperature, 23˚C
surface wind, N 12 km/h
Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during HRPO's viewing time the transparency rating will be "transparent" (5 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "poor" (2 out of 5).

Tonight's 20OGS operator is BRAS member (and asteroid discoverer) Merrill Hess.

The 26 September 2022 rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

More information:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/ ... -70-years/
https://www.space.com/jupiter-at-its-be ... -sept-2022

There is other good stuff happening in the heavens this week...
https://astronomy.com/observing/sky-thi ... r-23-to-30