Customer Reviews

Jupiter: and How to Observe It (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

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Thorough, but by no means complete. McAnally's statement(s) that any telescope of less than four inches of aperture is inadequate for serious observation of Jupiter is totally incorrect and clearly biased toward larger observatory based instruments as demonstrated by his repeated use of photographs depicting him at medium to large aperture telescopes. McAnally also neglects to mention that many fine planetary observations were made by serious amateurs in the late 19th and early 20th century employing instruments of three inches aperture and that it is still possible to make such observations with telescopes such as three inch refractors, provided their optical quality is outstanding.

Browsing through the heavens, I get the familiar warm feeling when seeing my favourite objects out there looking down on me, nothing given me this feeling more than Jupiter. Without Jupiter the night sky looks a bit empty, it's my observing companion on many nights and on early mornings when I'm walking to work.
No doubt, Jupiter has a special place in Earth Civilizations as do many other planets, but this particular one has earned the name god of all gods; and the protector of sky. Seeing this magnificent object in the sky with its visible moons [I managed to view 4 of them]; is a sight to remember. That said; I have to pin point that viewing an object like Jupiter or any other object once you get to know more about its make-up and history leads to a breathtaking appreciation of its might and beauty. This book is a step in the right direction for any one aspiring to learn about this planet and enjoy viewing it and maybe even be one of the fortunate few who will contribute to its science.

Section I: Science of Jupiter
Physical Characteristics, Terminology and Nomenclature, Belts and Zones are all included in exquisite details, you no longer will struggle to describe a feature on Jupiter, you now have in your hands the ability to indicate were each feature is located and how does it look in simple standard terminology that you can transcribe easily and effectively to any one and record it correctly. No more cryptic descriptions like "that strange looking dot with curve around the middle, maybe a bit north or south blah blah"; now you can precisely say "NNTB - North North Temperate Belt" and "GRS - Great Red Spot" and it makes sense to everyone. Chemical Composition, Atmosphere and Electromagnetic field around Jupiter are sufficiently articulate. If the electromagnetic field around earth has ever intrigued you, then get ready to be astounded with the details of the field around Jupiter. Its Moons "The Jovians" are mentioned with satisfactory details; IO, Europa, Ganymede and Calisto; there are books out there dedicated to these moons if desired.

Section II: How to Observe Jupiter
Approximately 50 pages are in three chapters covering equipment, sky conditions and Recording your observations. This is the part that guides you through your observation, both visual and imaging and recording what you see in a useful Logbook and even reporting your observations the correct way which is very important considering the recent events of more Comets Splashing into Jupiter. There is enough information to efficiently enjoy this planet and satisfy your scientific curiosity and make it a pleasurable reading.

Summary: Practical, Informative, Well Illustrated and Enjoyable.

More: July 2009, a "Sharp-Eyed" amateur by the name of Anthony Wesley observed and reported a new dark spot on Jupiter, many professionals in the field of astronomy listened and looked, Amateur Astronomers can still make valuable contributions.