… that fires the imagination with its thunderous storms and enormous cloud bands.
Through a small telescope of 150mm aperture on the balcony at home, it appears as a glowing sphere surrounded by its faithful moons. But the real eye-catcher is the Great Red Spot – a centuries-old hurricane that is larger than the Earth itself. A raging giant, captured in a moment of eternity. To the side of Jupiter at about 14 o’clock, the moon Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, is visible. Close to the Great Red Spot is the moon Europa, which is difficult to make out due to the limited image resolution.
But it wasn’t just Jupiter that attracted attention. A view of Mars was also possible. Its striking red color stands out clearly against the dark night sky, a result of the iron oxide-rich surface. Even some structure can be seen. A fascinating moment in which distant worlds seem very close for a moment.
Images and text: Patrick Staden
Add comment