Contains:  Solar system body or event
Jupiter, Bruce Rohrlach

Jupiter

Acquisition type: Lucky imaging

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Description

Spent some time imaging Jupiter on Saturday night last weekend, it’s been a while.

Comprising mostly hydrogen and helium, Jupiter has a chemical composition quite similar to the sun, and comprises most of the material that was left over in the solar system following gas accretion that collapsed and ignited the sun. Jupiter however did not have enough mass to undergo fusion in its core and self ignite.

Most of the planet is made of gases and liquids at various pressures, and so it’s rapid rotation (1 day = 9 hours 56 mins) results in the shear banding that gives Jupiter its rich tapestry of colours. Some 12 main zonal bands and belts are defined in the ammonia-rich uppermost atmosphere.

Deep in the planet where pressures rise, the atmosphere transitions ”gradually” downward into the largest liquid ocean in the solar system - only the ocean is not liquid water, but liquid hydrogen.

It’s is thought Jupiter has a rocky core that is around 14-18 times the mass of earth, but only 5% of Jupiters mass.

Quite happy with the seeing conditions and resolution from this rather modest 8 inch scope.

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Jupiter, Bruce Rohrlach