Jupiter with a diameter of 88,750 miles is the largest planet with a diameter 11x that of the Earth.  It lies at a distance of 483,700,000 miles from the sun and has a surface temperature of  -150 deg C.  Its atmosphere is composed of Hydrogen, Helium, Methane and Ammonia that give rise to its swirling cloud belts.  The current opposition is favourable with the planet lying some ten degrees above the celestial equator. The following images have all been taken  from  this observatory with the 50cm f/4 telescope stopped down to 25cm using the SX Colour and Monochrome CCD camera. Taken just a few days from opposition this image shows the Great Red Spot  making an appearance on the eastern limb. This vast cyclone has a diameter of 24,000 km and having remained visible for over 160 years remains one of the enduring mysteries of the planet.

001009 First images of the current apparition. Taken during a morning of average/good seeing conditions with Jupiter  lying in the south-east.
               These are 0.4 sec exposures with 50 cm f/4 and IR Pass filter. Shows rifting in the NEB. SEB divided and fade in STB on preceding limb

001117  This monochrome image shows the Great Red Spot in transit, and rifting in the NEB.

001124   This colour image shows  the GRS making  an appearance on the following limb. Here are some further images.

001227   Two images of  GRS transiting.

001230    Good seeing showing  group of three white ovals in the STB following GRS.   The three ovals more visible in this enhanced image.

010106   A stack of  eight images showing the longitude preceding the GRS.

010107    A series of images spanning 5 minutes showing ingress of  Io (transit).

010112     Fading of the STB?

010118     Dark material from SEB strreaming under GRS?  Preceding this a shadow transit of  Io was visible as a small black disk on the SEB

010216    Satellite egress  and shadow ingress of Europa