![]() Half the difficulty in seeing the Galilean moons for the first time is knowing what to look for. Of course, if you’re using a telescope with a decent tripod, you’re already set. If yours lack the mounting hole, you can either securely tie the binoculars directly to the tripod head or simply steady yourself by leaning against a post or rail. Some binoculars have provisions for doing this they're equipped with a standard ¼-20 threaded mounting hole located on the front hinge to facilitate the use of a tripod adapter. Binoculars that magnify 10x will have an advantage over those that magnify 7x.Įither way, to get more than a fleeting glimpse you'll need to mount them on a tripod or some other support. Most binoculars will allow you to see the four largest Jovian moons - Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto (in order of increasing average distance from the planet). Although binoculars typically magnify far less than Galileo’s telescopes, their sharp views will more than compensate for the lower power. Surprisingly, ordinary binoculars are optically superior to anything Galileo viewed through. Sky & Telescope's editor in chief, Rick Fienberg, recorded this scene on March 16, 2003, using a 12-inch (30-centimeter) Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and a Canon digital camera. Jupiter with three of its Galilean satellites (from lower left to upper right): Io, Europa, and Callisto. ![]() Although viewing these same moons might not shake up your own worldview, you can at least relive some of Galileo’s excitement by discovering them for yourself with nothing more than binoculars or a small telescope. The thrill of discovery would have been magnified by the simultaneous realization that an unshakable truth - that all worlds revolved around the Earth - had just collapsed. Try to imagine what must have gone through Galileo Galilei's mind one January evening in 1610 when he first realized that the four points of light he saw through his new telescope were, in fact, worlds circling Jupiter. Available on the iTunes App Store for $2.99. If you enjoy using this tool, you might be interested in our app for iOS devices: JupiterMoons shows you the locations of Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, and the Great Red Spot at any date and time. ![]() Read on for advice on observing Jupiter's moons and a detailed explanation of the interactive observing tool. You'll also find extra information on whether and when a moon might hide behind Jupiter or cast its shadow on the planet's cloudtops. The tool is customizable, so that you can change the view according to the type of telescope you're using. Which one is which? Our interactive tool shows the positions of Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto for any date and time between January 1900 and December 2100. Turn your telescope to Jupiter and you'll easily pick out its "stars", the dots of light from the four big Galilean moons that orbit the king of planets. Launch Sky & Telescope's interactive tool for observing Jupiter's moons!
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