Some Beautiful Sky Scenes for July & By Jove, What’s Happening with Jupiter?

What’s up with Jupiter? Do you remember back in 1994 when Jupiter was hit with at least 21 fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy, leaving huge scars in the planet’s cloud tops that persisted for weeks? Well, jump ahead to July 19, 2009, and an amateur astronomer noted another scar in Jupiter’s atmosphere, indicating yet another impact.

We haven’t been observing Jupiter at the local observatories recently because the planet was too close to the Sun in the sky to be seen from our Earthly perspective. When finally emerging from the solar glare, it was noted that something was amiss with Jupiter once again.

Jupiter’s South Equatorial Belt (SEB) was gone. This belt is the one in which the Great Red Spot resides. The Spot was fine, but the brownish belt was missing. And guess who first reported this event? The same amateur astronomer who first observed the 2009 impact scar!

This time is not the first time that the belt has disappeared. And it will most likely return. There are plenty of images up on the web to see what Jupiter looks like now and what it looked like before losing this prominent feature. Here is one web site you can review: http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2010/05/19/loststripe_strip.jpg

However, if you do have a telescope of any size you should be able to see for yourself. Jupiter is the brightest star-like object about 20 degrees above the ESE horizon at around 3:00 am. It won’t be until September at the earliest that the local observatories will be able to show Jupiter at a reasonable hour, say before 10:00 pm. Perhaps the SEB will return by then. Perhaps not.

But wait, there’s more! Back on June 3 two amateur astronomers independently videoed the impact of a body of unknown origin into Jupiter’s cloud tops. The videos can be seen at these web sites: http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/wesley_jupimpact_color.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaRwaw9d_LQ&feature=related It was quite fortuitous they were imaging Jupiter at the time of impact. What’s even more impressive is that one of those amateur astronomers was the same individual who had first noticed the July 2009 impact scar and the person to note the missing SEB. I should have him pick a few Powerball numbers for the next drawing! While luck has something to do with it, this gentleman from Australia, Anthony Wesley, is a vigilant Jupiter observer.

I would encourage you to check the web for any updates on Jupiter’s appearance between now and September. I will announce when the local observatories will be able to provide you an opportunity to observe Jupiter firsthand through some large telescopes.

And let’s hope if someone asks what’s happening with Jupiter they don’t get the response, “Something wonderful.” If you know the source of that quote please email me your answer at dhuestis@bryant.edu. Deadline is July 14. All correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a special prize.

During July evenings I want you to focus your attention towards the western sky about an hour after sunset. The first object that will catch your attention will be brilliant Venus. As twilight deepens you will see that the goddess of love is in the constellation of Leo. Arcing up to the left of Venus you’ll encounter Regulus, the brightest star of Leo and also his heart. To the upper left of Regulus you’ll find reddish Mars. Continue that arc higher still to the upper left and you’ll find Saturn.

Three planets in one glance! Telescopes will show Saturn’s rings and Venus as a waning gibbous phase (75% illuminated) early on and just more than half illuminated (60%) by month’s end. Mars will be too small to show any detail.

Watch as the month progresses, for the positions of these heavenly orbs will change. It will provide you a little insight into the dynamics of our solar system. Venus will slide by Regulus on July 9. Then around the 13th the crescent Moon will be seen just above the western horizon. Each successive night through the 16th you’ll find the Moon positioned beneath a different member of the celestial arc.

In addition, around the 13th Mercury will join the planetary grouping as well. You’ll need to look about 35 to 45 minutes after sunset. From here in Rhode Island you’ll need an unobstructed view almost right down to the horizon. On the 27th Mercury will pass Regulus.

The accompanying star graphic will help you to find and identify all the players in this beautiful sky scene. Much of this month-long event will not be visible from the main telescopes at Seagrave Memorial Observatory (http:/www.theskyscrapers.org) in North Scituate because of our western tree line. In addition, Seagrave Observatory will be closed for public viewing July 3 (holiday weekend) and July 10 (for a private function.) Regardless, the naked-eye and binoculars will show it best, so find a location with a good western horizon and enjoy the show. For the rest of July our summer hours are from 9:00 – 11:00 pm, weather permitting.

Unfortunately Ladd Observatory (http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Physics/Ladd/) in Providence will be closed most if not all of July for a restoration of the transit room in the rear of the building. Please check the web site for updates in case the project takes longer than expected.

And finally, while there are two meteor showers during the last three or four days of July, the Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids, the bright Moon (Full on the 26th) will drown out all but the brightest of these shooting stars. Still, if clear skies prevail you may catch a glimpse of a couple of them. Keep your eyes to the skies.