![]() They only look tiny and faint because they're about 2,000 times farther away. Look closely to either side of Jupiter's disk - do you see a line of three or four tiny stars? Each of these is a satellite of Jupiter roughly the size of our own Moon. If your binoculars are good quality and magnify at least seven times (they'll be marked 7×35 or 7×50, for example), you'll see Jupiter as a tiny white disk. Jupiter was king of the gods in Roman mythology, and when it's high in the sky, it rules unchallenged as the brightest "star" in the sky.īefore you track down this planet with your telescope, grab your binoculars and find a tree or wall to brace against while pointing them toward Jupiter. And it's got four large moons that hover nearby like bright fireflies, forever shuttling back and forth around Jupiter's glaring globe. It's the only one that shows distinct features in even a fairly small scope. What makes Jupiter such a treat is that it offers more to see in a telescope than any other planet. Note the Great Red Spot, which overlaps the dark South Equatorial Belt below center.įor me, however, it's Jupiter. S&T imaging editor Sean Walker used a 12½-inch reflector to capture Jupiter on August 17, 2011, from Masil Observatory East in New Hampshire. ![]() Nothing compares to those wonderful rings. The fascination with the Red Planet as a possible abode of life goes back well over a century. If it's Mars, you certainly have lots of company. ![]()
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