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Soooo… I set up my telescope for the first time last night and saw Jupiter and Saturn… [I Love the Night Sky]

It’s the first time seeing these objects through a telescope for me - absolutely mind-blowing!
ArishMell · 70-79, M Best Comment
I assume a telesope powerful enough to show the clouds on Jupiter and the rings round Saturn?

I have no such telescope: the planets are magnified by mine only enough to differentiate them from the stars (as tiny discs). I have though seen those two planets through a 21" telescope owned by an astronoical society, on a public open-evening; and yes, they are magnificent objects.

++++

Some years ago I was told a curious and rather moving tale, when visiting friends on hills in a rural part of England. We were sufficiently far from lit-up towns for a lovely view of the Winter night sky, Milky Way and all.

They told me of meeting a young Canadian a couple of years previously, in the same area; and were similarly admiting the starry scene. Suddenly she burst into tears.

My hosts, rather embarrased and worried, related that when they gently asked her what was the matter she explained she was a professional astronomer, but working with a radio-telescope on the fringe of a brightly-lit city in an area that is also often foggy.

Despite studying the r.f. spectra of objects within the galaxy, on that evening in England she had seen the Milky Way with her own eyes for the first time.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@ArishMell Thank you!

Lostpoet · M
Do you want to incinerate it?

Listen to this album while looking through your telescope. [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN--9-tbiio]
Oneofthestormboys · 100+, M
Although it looked small, I could clearly see Saturn’s rings, including the Cassini Gap. And it’s a pale yellow colour.
Jupiter was fully lit by the sun with Io on the right, and Europa, Ganymede and Callisto on the left.
I had goosebumps - that’s how much of a sad twat I am!
JupiterDreams · 31-35
You saw me?
Oneofthestormboys · 100+, M
Allelse · 36-40, M
Cool!!! Hey, the other night I saw this freaky looking satellite go by with the naked eye, it was blinking a creepy, freaky red color.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Allelse A flashing red light suggests what you saw was more likely a military or civilian cargo aeroplane or helicopter with its port indicator lamp more visible to you than any other it carried.

Satellites appear to us by naked eye only because they reflect sun-light from their metal surfaces, so appear as steady white lights. (Like the Moon, in fact.)

I live some miles from an area with a lot of coastguard and military flying exercises, and sights as you describe are common. If the aircraft is going the other way the light is green (starboard).
Oneofthestormboys · 100+, M
@Allelse I saw a huge flashing light right overhead the other night. And then I remembered that I live in a lighthouse 😂

 
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