In April, the inhabitants of Russia will see the "elusive" mercury, the "opposition" of Jupiter and the meteor shower. Starry sky in April: a short guide What to watch for astronomy lovers in April

April, the middle of spring! The time when the day grows by leaps and bounds. Every day the Sun rises higher in the sky, and if at the beginning of the month the night was still struggling with the day for dominance, then at the end of April in temperate latitudes the first signs of white nights already appear.

The starry sky and bright winter constellations are also rapidly leaving. Taurus, Orion, Canis Major and Canis Minor, Charioteer and Gemini - all these constellations are still clearly visible in the evenings in the west in the first half of April, but at the end of the month almost all of them will go beyond the horizon.

What is the sky before the eyes of the observer in April? First of all, it very dark. There are few bright stars in the April sky, and the eye of a person who is just starting to study the constellations simply has nothing to catch on - most of the spring constellations are so plain.

Dark April sky. Drawing: Stellarium

Therefore, at first it makes sense to describe the position of bright stars in April. Based on them, you can memorize the drawings of the main spring constellations and thus learn how to navigate the April sky.

Bright Stars in April

So, mid-April, evening. The most expressive picture of the sky at this time of day is observed in the west. Here, winter constellations lean towards the horizon, which include many bright stars.

But in 2018, the beautiful planet Venus burns brightest in the west, which becomes noticeable almost immediately after sunset in the constellation Aries.

In the April evening sky in 2018, the first thing that catches the eye is Venus, which shines in the rays of the evening dawn. Drawing: Stellarium

Above the remnants of the evening dawn shines a yellowish Chapel. Lower her orange Aldebaran, heading the constellation Taurus (on ancient maps, this star marked the red eye of an angry bull). A little to the east of these two stars, the beautiful seven-star Orion, headed by a bright red star, sets beyond the horizon. Betelgeuse. Two rather bright stars above Orion - Castor And Pollux leading the constellation Gemini. They are located to the left of the Chapel and slightly above it. Floats low in the southeast, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Above it, halfway to Castor and Pollux, another bright star is visible. This Procyon, alpha of Canis Minor.

By the end of April, only Chapel, Procyon, and the twin brothers Castor and Pollux will remain of this beautiful picture. The rest of the stars will go below the horizon.

Now let's look south. One more or less bright star is visible here. Her name - Regulus, is the main star of the constellation Leo. Two more bright stars are in the southeast - orange Arcturus and bluish spica. Together they form a huge triangle, inside of which there is nothing memorable. True, in different years this starless kingdom is decorated with bright planets. So, in 2016, Jupiter was in the constellation Leo (next to the star Regulus), and in 2027, Jupiter and Mars will appear simultaneously in the same constellation. Also, the Moon moves along the line Regulus - Spica every month. In April, our satellite moves from Regulus to Spica, moving from the phase of the first quarter to the full moon.

Mid-April, evening, south side of the sky. Discreet spring constellations Leo, Virgo, Hydra, Chalice and other huge area. Regulus, Spica and Arcturus are the three brightest stars in this region of the sky. Drawing: Stellarium

Finally, two more bright stars are visible near the horizon in the northeast. This Vega And Deneb, the top two stars that will shine high in the sky in the south from August to October.

What constellations are visible in April?

Now let's look west again, where a good dozen stars of 2nd magnitude and brighter are visible in early and mid-April at nightfall. First of all, the constellation of Orion attracts attention, which is easy to recognize thanks to the seven stars that form the figure of a mythical hero: the bright red star Betelgeuse and the white star Bellatrix mark the shoulders of the hunter, three stars in a row - Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka - form, and the two lower stars - Saif and bright Rigel are his legs.

Western sky in April one hour after sunset. Bright winter constellations are fading. Drawing: Stellarium

The constellation of Gemini is two chains of stars going from Castor and Pollux to the horizon. It is quite easy to recognize in them the figures of two brothers standing in an embrace. The constellation Taurus consists mainly of the head of a bull and its horns, which are marked by not very bright stars between Orion and Capella. The constellation Canis Major went almost entirely below the horizon in April, while the constellation Canis Minor consists of just one bright star, Procyon.

But these are all winter constellations, leaving during April from the picture of the night sky.

The spring constellations, which are visible in the south and southeast in April, due to their inexpressiveness, it makes sense to look for, starting from the three main stars, Regula, Spica and Arcturus.

Surroundings of the constellation Leo. Drawing: Stellarium

It leads the constellation Leo, which can be recognized by the characteristic trapezoid of four stars. Regulus marks the lower right corner of the trapezoid, and the lower left corner marks the 2nd magnitude star Denebola.

The trapezium is the torso of Leo, and three more dim stars make up his head, forming, together with Regulus, the asterism "Sickle". The animal, as it were, lies in the sky, sensitively peering towards Orion and other winter constellations.

To the right and below the trapezoid of Leo is a vast space filled with rather dim stars. The brightest of them, heads the constellation Hydra, which is known for being the largest area in the sky among all 88 constellations. In the city, the Hydra constellation is difficult to see; let's just say that it is a long chain of dim stars, part of which remains under the horizon at the latitudes of Moscow, Kyiv and St. Petersburg.

To the north of Hydra are three unremarkable constellations. The most inconspicuous of them - Sextant - can hardly be seen in a big city. The same can be said about the constellation of the Chalice, but the constellation of the Crow, floating low above the horizon, can be recognized by its characteristic compact quadrangle.

The main star patterns of the evening sky in April: the Big Dipper Bucket, the stars Arcturus, Spica and Regulus. Drawing: Stellarium

If you raise your head up, then we will see the constellation and the famous. The bucket itself faces the winter constellations and, in particular, the star Capella in the west, and the handle of the Bucket points to the bright orange star Arcturus, which is located in the southeast on April evenings. This is one of the three brightest stars in the spring sky (together with Regulus and Spica) and, by the way, the brightest of them.

Arcturus heads the constellation Bootes, which is recognizable by the dome pattern of 5 stars over Arcturus, reminiscent of a parachute opening over a paratrooper star. Continuing down the line from the handle of the Big Dipper to Arcturus, we will come to Spica, the third star of the first magnitude in the April sky.

Spica is a hot bluish-white star, but in the middle latitudes it never rises high above the horizon and therefore often twinkles and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow, like Sirius. She leads the constellation Virgo. This rather large constellation consists of dim stars of the 3rd and 4th magnitude. The brightest star after Spica, Epsilon Virgo, is located on the continuation of the base of the Regulus trapezoid - Denebola, and the only slightly memorable pattern of the constellation forms Spica and three more stars - a large irregular quadrangle.

Continuing the line Regulus - Denebola we will come to the star epsilon Virgo, which has the beautiful name Vindemiatrix. Drawing: Stellarium

Between the trapezoid of Leo and the “parachute” of Bootes, above the constellation Virgo and under the handle of the Bucket, there is a vast starless space. Only outside the city, on a dark and transparent night, the eye distinguishes here a scattering of dim stars that form the constellation Coma Veronica. In this constellation, powerful telescopes observe thousands of galaxies like the Milky Way. Finally, above the constellation Coma Veronica, directly under the handle of the Bucket, almost at the zenith, another rather bright star is visible. It is the brightest star in the small constellation Canes Venatici, which also contains a large number of distant galaxies.

View of the April starry sky at different times of the day

We have described the view of the starry sky in April, its constellations and its brightest stars. But this description refers to the evening time, an hour or two after sunset. And how does the starry sky change in April over time?

As you know, the picture of the starry sky, together with all the stars, the Moon and planets, moves during the day from left to right, that is, from east to west, reflecting the rotation of the Earth. In an hour, the picture shifts by 15 °, in three hours - by 45 °, in six hours - by 90 ° (a quarter of a full turn). Since the April night in middle latitudes lasts about 9 hours (at the beginning of the month it is longer, at the end of the month it is shorter), during this time the picture of the constellations has time to change significantly.

Late at night in April, the constellations of the Northern Crown, Hercules, Serpens, Ophiuchus, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius are visible in the south. Note the bright planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn visible along the horizon. Drawing: Stellarium

At midnight, the constellation Leo shifts to the west. The stars Arcturus and Spica are now visible in the south. In the southeastern part of the sky, the constellations Libra, Serpent and Ophiuchus rise. To the east of Arcturus, a compact chain of stars is visible, forming a semicircle. This is the constellation of the Northern Crown. To the left of this small constellation is the vast constellation Hercules, and bright white stars and are visible even further in the east. With the exception of Vega and Deneb, no new bright stars appear in the sky. As we have already said, the April sky is very stingy with expressive constellations.

Late at night, the northern part of the constellation Scorpio appears over the horizon along with the bright red star Antares. Scorpio and its main star are visible very low on the horizon in the south, under the constellation Ophiuchus. It is precisely because of the low position of Antares that people living at the latitude of Moscow or St. Petersburg often do not notice.

Leo, Virgo, Libra, Ophiuchus and Scorpio - it is through these constellations that the path of the Sun, Moon and planets lies against the background of stars. Therefore, it is not surprising that bright planets appear in these constellations from time to time, distorting the usual star patterns. In April 2018, bright Jupiter is in the constellation of Libra. Mars and Saturn can also be seen in the morning sky, low on the horizon in the constellation Sagittarius. (This constellation is adjacent to the eastern borders of Scorpio and Ophiuchus.)

Pre-dawn sky in April 2018 (April 15 at 4-5 a.m.), southeastern part. At this time, it is very easy to find the summer triangle formed by the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair. The constellation Cygnus is also very expressive. Drawing: Stellarium

If you're lucky with the weather and away from city lights, look east in the wee hours, where the Summer Triangle rises at this time. In the constellations Cygnus and Eagle, you can admire the Milky Way - those very sections of it that will be visible overhead on dark August and September evenings.

Each of us at least once admired the amazing spectacle - the starry rain. Knowing the dates of starfalls in 2017 in advance, you can enjoy these events to the maximum and not miss a single star shower.

Starfall has long been considered a mystical event, bewitching with its beauty and grandeur. Contemplation of the starry sky helps to come to inner harmony, and when you see a shooting star, you can make any wish that will surely come true.

Quadrantids in January 2017

The Lyrid meteor shower in spring 2017

This year, the Lyrid shower should be expected in April, from the 16th to the 25th. The constellation Lyra has been giving us this amazing sight for several centuries. In 2017, the peak of meteor showers will fall on April 21, and the overall intensity of meteor showers will decrease compared to last year.

Energetically, this April starfall is perfectly compatible with the fulfillment of desires related to self-development and creativity. At this time, it will be easiest to start learning a new hobby or gain useful skills.

When will the meteor shower of Aquarids

Aquarids are meteor showers of three types:

• Eta Aquarids: the stream can be seen from April 19 to May 28, 2017;
• Delta Aquarids: meteor shower runs from July 12 to August 23;
• Iota Aquarids: This meteor shower will begin on July 1st and end on September 18th.

The energy of the Aquarids meteor shower is extremely strong: this shower of meteors brings fundamental changes, inspiration and love. During these three starfalls, you can fulfill your most cherished desire and completely change life and destiny.

Perseid meteor shower in 2017

The Perseid meteor shower is the most famous and brightest. In the coming 2017, it can be seen from July 18 to August 24, and the peak of activity with more than 250 meteors falling per hour will reach the meteor shower on August 11-12. It is better to admire this spectacle of incomparable beauty away from the city and sources of street lighting: a trip to the village or a country trip with an overnight stay in nature would be an ideal solution.

The energy of the Perseid meteor shower is extremely strong and requires careful handling. For example, astrologers recommend carefully weighing your every word and even thought during this period of time, since such a bright starfall is able to attract into your life absolutely everything that you say or think about, experiencing strong emotions. At this time, empathy will help more than ever: you can better understand others and avoid many troubles.

Draconids Fall 2017

The glow of the Draconids can be observed annually from October 7 to 12: although this meteor shower is very short, it is unusually bright and has a strong energy. This year, the peak of starfall activity will be on October 8, and the intensity will reach 20 meteors per hour.

The Draconids were given to us by the constellation of the Dragon, and on the subtle plane, they extremely sharpen the sense of justice. During this period, it is extremely easy to “break wood”, not coping with your own emotions, or to fall into anguish from the general world injustice. Astrologers and psychics recommend not starting new business and not making fateful decisions at this time. You can take care of yourself and your needs, give warmth, care and attention to your loved ones, as well as pay more attention to the beauty around you.

Orionid meteor shower

This starfall is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful. Orionids in 2017 will begin their movement on October 2, and finish around November 7-8. The speed of falling meteors in the stream is very fast, and the intensity of starfall will reach 15-20 meteors per hour.

The energy of the Orionids is tough, impetuous, impulsive. Emotions will erupt even among the most restrained and cold-blooded people, feelings will be heated, and words will be hot and sincere. Try to be honest with yourself and dear people at this time, because sometimes a frank conversation can fix even the most difficult situation.

Leonids in 2017

Usually, the Leonids become far from the brightest meteor shower: the flow rate reaches no more than 10 meteors per hour. But this year we will see a surge in this meteor shower that occurs every 33 years. The Leonids will be much brighter than usual, and the intensity of meteor showers can reach 20-30 per hour. Such a spectacle will be beautiful in the cold autumn sky: you can watch the starfall from November 8 to 28, 2017.

Energetically, the Leonids perfectly contribute to creative inspiration: at this time, poems are best written, paintings are created and the art of meditation is comprehended. Do not be afraid to create and express yourself: your work will bring very real results.

When can you watch the Geminids in 2017

The Geminids are a major stellar shower that ends the calendar year. It will be possible to observe this meteor shower from December 4 to 17, and it will reach the peak of activity on the 13-14th. This time the stream will pass through the constellation of Gemini, which means that the starfall will be best seen in the Northern Hemisphere.

The energy of the Geminids will contribute to restorative practices and the fulfillment of desires: at this time, it will be especially good and the beginning of any creative process will be successful. Try to look for answers about your purpose and path at this particular time: the energy of the meteor shower will help you get comprehensive information at the subconscious level.

The starry sky contains many attractive secrets, and only some of them have been unraveled by astronomers and astrologers. It is no secret that the stars directly affect our life, and in order for it to be happy, it is necessary to be in harmony with the lunar and stellar energy. It will be a good help

Three rare astronomical phenomena at once will be visible in the sky over Russia in April 2017.

Residents of Russia in April will be able to see several astronomical events - the opposition of Jupiter, the "elusive" Mercury and the Lyrid meteor shower, Anatoly Denisov, board member of the Association of Planetariums of Russia, director of the Ufa planetarium, said in an interview with TASS.

According to him, in the first half of April, you can try to find Mercury at sunset, which is called elusive due to the difficult accessibility for observations. The most favorable time for her observations comes when she is in the sky intkbbee farthest away from the sun.

According to him, in early April, Mercury will be visible within two hours after sunset, in the west, near the horizon as a bright star. After a week of good visibility, the brightness of Mercury will sharply weaken, it will be more and more difficult to find it against the background of a bright sky. By the middle of the month, the duration of its visibility will be greatly reduced. And on April 20, it will enter into lower conjunction with the Sun, that is, it will be on a straight line between the Earth and the Sun, ceasing to be visible.

Opposition or opposition of Jupiter will occur on April 7th. At this point, the planet will be in a straight line with the Earth and the Sun, with the Earth located in the middle. This time is the most favorable for observing the planet, as it will be at the smallest distance from the Earth and have the greatest brightness.

Jupiter rises in the evening, rises high above the horizon by the middle of the night, and sets in the morning. It is easy to find as it is the brightest "star" in the night sky. With binoculars near Jupiter, you can see its largest satellites - Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610. And with a telescope you can see the belts and zones of Jupiter and the famous Great Red Spot, said the director of the planetarium. Such a planet will be visible for about a month.

Another significant astronomical event of the month will be the Lyrid meteor shower, which operates from April 16 to 25. At this time, the Earth will pass through a swarm of dust particles left behind by the tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1). As a result, dust particles, flying into the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 49 km/sec and burning up, will create a beautiful "shooting star" effect.

This year, the Lyrid maximum is expected in the morning hours of April 22, up to 20 meteors should be observed within an hour. The stream's radiant is visible all night, but the Lyrids are best observed from midnight until dawn, when the constellation Lyra rises high above the horizon. The waning Moon in a phase less than the last quarter will rise just before dawn and will not significantly interfere with the observation of meteors.

The sun, shining brightly throughout the night in the constellation of Virgo. Mercury will be visible in the evening sky until the middle of the month. Venus can be found in the morning near the eastern horizon. Mars observed at dusk in the constellation Aries. Saturn visible at night and morning in the constellation Sagittarius. Uranus gradually lost in the evening twilight, going on approach to the Sun. Neptune it begins the period of its morning visibility in the constellation Aquarius.

Moon will approach the indicated planets: on April 11 at night with a full moon - with Jupiter, on April 17 at night with a lunar phase of 0.74 - with Saturn, on April 23 in the morning with a lunar phase of 0.17 - with Neptune, on April 24 in the morning with a lunar phase of 0.03 - with Venus, on April 26 in the afternoon at a lunar phase of 0.00 - with Mercury and Uranus, on April 28 in the evening at a lunar phase of 0.06 - with Mars. For observations, it is better to choose nights when the Moon near the full phases does not pass near the observed planet.

The visibility conditions are given for the middle latitudes of Russia (about 56°N). For cities to the north and south, celestial bodies will be located at the indicated time, respectively, slightly lower or higher (by the difference in latitudes) relative to their places in the sky of Bratsk. To clarify the local conditions for the visibility of planets, use planetarium programs.

MERCURY moves in the same direction with the Sun through the constellations of Pisces and Aries, on April 10 it passes the standing point and proceeds to reverse movement across the sky. At the beginning of the month, the duration of the evening visibility of Mercury is about 1.5 hours, but by the middle of the month, the planet will disappear in the light of the setting Sun. This is the most favorable evening visibility of Mercury in 2017. On April 20, the planet will pass inferior conjunction with the Sun, moving into the morning sky.

The elongation of Mercury at the beginning of the month is 19 degrees, at the conjunction 1.5 degrees, growing to 15 degrees by the end of the month. The apparent size of Mercury increases from 7 to 11 arc seconds with falling brightness from -0.1m to +10m (in conjunction) and up to +2.6m by the end of the month. The phase of Mercury decreases from 0.41 to the "new moon" (in conjunction) and to 0.1 per month. Successful observations of Mercury during periods of visibility require binoculars, an open horizon, and a clear twilight sky.

Mercury in the evening sky in the first half of April 2017

VENUS moving backwards in the constellation Pisces, on April 12, changing the movement to a straight line. The planet is visible at dusk in the morning over the northeastern horizon for no more than half an hour.

The angular dimensions of the planet's disk are reduced from 57 to 38 arc seconds. The phase of the planet increases from 0.03 to 0.27 with increasing brightness from -3.3m to -4.8m. The elongation of the planet increases from 13 to 39 degrees . The telescope sees an increasing crescent with a simultaneous decrease in the size of the planet, because the distance between Venus and Earth is gradually increasing.

Venus in the morning sky April 2017

MARS has a direct movement through the constellations of Aries and Taurus, gradually approaching the Sun. It can be observed in the evenings at about 2 o'clock above the western horizon. The brightness of the planet adheres to the value +1.5m, and the angular size is about 4".

For observations, a telescope with a lens diameter of 60-90 mm is required. To observe the details on the disk of Mars, the moment of opposition, which occurs once every two years, is best suited. At other periods, Mars appears in a telescope as a tiny reddish disk with no details. The next opposition of Mars will occur on July 27, 2018 (Great Opposition!).

The position of Mars in the evening sky in early April 2017

P Position of Mars in the evening sky in the second half of April 2017

JUPITER moves backward through the constellation Virgo (above * Spica), approaching the moment of opposition on April 8. The gas giant is visible throughout the night and in the morning (around 9 a.m.). The angular diameter of the giant planet in the sky reaches 44 arc seconds by the day of opposition, and the brightness is up to -2.5m. This is the best month for observing Jupiter in 2017.

Position of Jupiter in the night sky April 2017

Four bright satellites of the giant are visible through binoculars - due to the rapid orbital movement, they noticeably change their position relative to each other and Jupiter during one night (the configurations of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto can be found in astronomical calendars or in planetarium programs).

The telescope distinguishes bands (northern and southern equatorial bands), shadows from satellites periodically pass across the planet’s disk, as well as the famous huge oval cyclone BKP (Great Red Spot), which makes a complete revolution along with the planet’s atmosphere in 9.5 hours. The current longitude of the BKP can be found at http://jupos.privat.t-online.de/rGrs.htm. The BKP appears about 2 hours before passing through the meridian and disappears after 2 hours (goes beyond the disk).

The moments of the passage of the BKP through the central meridian of Jupiter in APRIL 2017 (universal time UT)
To get the time for Bratsk, you need to add 8 hours to UTC

Current longitude BKP 265°

SATURN passes the standing point on April 6 and proceeds to backward movement, moving through the constellation Sagittarius. The planet is observed over 3 hours at night and in the morning over the southeastern and southern horizons. The angular diameter of Saturn increases from 16 to 17 seconds of arc at magnitude +0.4m. The best period has come in 2017 for observations of the ringed planet, which will last until August, because. Saturn is approaching its opposition on June 15th.

In a small telescope, the ring around the planet and the satellite Titan (+8m) are clearly distinguished. The visible dimensions of the planet's ring are about 40x16 arc seconds. At present, the rings of the planet are open at 27° and the north pole of the gas giant is illuminated by the Sun.

Position of Saturn in the night sky in April 2017

URANUS moves in the same direction as the Sun in the constellation Pisces near *Zeta Pisces (5.2m). The overturned planet is visible only in the first decade of the month for about half an hour in the evening twilight in the western part of the sky, then the planet is lost in the bright twilight. The brightness of the planet adheres to the value of +5.8m at an angular diameter of 3".

During opposition periods, Uranus can be observed with the naked eye in a clear transparent sky, in the absence of illumination from the Moon (near the new moon) and away from city lights. In a 150-mm telescope with a magnification of 80x and higher, you can see a greenish disk ("pea") of the planet. The satellites of Uranus have a brightness weaker than +13m.

The path of Uranus among the stars in 2017 (search map)© Fyodor Sharov's blog

On April 7, Jupiter enters opposition to the Sun. Traditionally, the time near opposition (conditionally - a month before and a month after) is considered the most favorable for observing the outer planets.

• Firstly, during opposition, the planet is visible throughout the dark time of the day. It rises just after sunset and sets at dawn. Accordingly, it can be observed at the most convenient time: in the evening and in the first half of the night.
• Secondly, the angular dimensions of the planet near opposition are maximum, since the planet at this time is closer to the Earth than at other periods.

In April 2017, in the evenings, the planet is in the southeast. Drawing: Stellarium

All this fully applies to Jupiter. And even more: spring 2017 - the best time to observe it is not only this year, but also for several years to come. Why?

Jupiter is now in the constellation Virgo, in the southern hemisphere of the celestial sphere. As a result, the planet does not rise high above the horizon: at the latitude of St. Petersburg, the maximum height of Jupiter is now about 24 °, at the latitude of Moscow - 28 °.

In April 2017, Jupiter culminates in the south around midnight. Drawing: Stellarium

At the same time, the planet moves against the background of stars in an easterly direction: towards the constellations of Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius. These constellations are further south than the constellation Virgo. Remember how low the Sun floats above the horizon, being in the constellations of Scorpio and Sagittarius in November and December! The same story will happen with Jupiter: in the period from 2019 to 2021, the planet will be located very low above the horizon. And this, in turn, will negatively affect the quality of his observations: refraction, dust and air currents near the horizon will inevitably blur the details on the planet's disk in the telescope's eyepiece.

Therefore, if you want to enjoy the picture of Jupiter to the fullest, we advise you to start exploring the planet as soon as possible!

Read about how to find a planet in the spring of 2017.

What do you need to observe Jupiter?

First of all, telescope. If you already have a telescope, start observing with it! Before observing, check the aperture of your instrument: the telescope objective must be greater than 60 mm if it is a refractor or greater than 75 mm if it is a reflector. Anything less is just a toy - you won't see anything interesting on Jupiter through this telescope.

If you don't have a telescope but are considering getting one, don't buy an expensive and complicated instrument! Buy the most easy-to-maintain, reliable and well-proven small telescope of a well-known brand (Celestron, Sky-Watcher, etc.). If you take a lens telescope, then a diameter of 70-100 mm will be enough for a start. If the mirror, then 90-130 mm telescopes will suit you. Such telescopes are quite mobile, do not take up very much space, and in the end they can be resold quite easily.

There is another reason not to take an expensive telescope specifically for planetary observations if you live in central Russia or, especially, in the north. In the coming years, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn - the best planets to observe - will be visible low on the horizon, and this eliminates the advantages of your telescope. Don't disappoint yourself!

The second thing you need is place for observation. You can also observe Jupiter in the city - the planet is bright enough for this, but the surrounding houses and trees can become a problem. Observations require an open horizon to the south. If you have a south-facing balcony (or open loggia), you can watch from it, but warm air currents can spoil the image in the telescope if your house has poor thermal insulation. Do not watch through a window, even if it is open - the image quality will be very poor! It is better to take the telescope to the yard or to the park. Cover your instrument from lights to keep glare out of the lens.

The third thing you need cold tool. Any telescope needs to be thermally stabilized, in other words, the temperature of its optics must more or less equal the temperature of the air. Thermal stabilization of reflectors takes more time than refractors. The cooling time depends largely on the ambient temperature. If you have a small refractor, then in the spring 20-30 minutes will be enough for thermal stabilization. If a reflector, then it will take 2 times more time.

What can be observed on Jupiter?

Jupiter is one of the most fertile celestial objects for astronomy lovers. Even a small telescope can show a lot of details on the planet's disk. However, several conditions must be met for this to happen.

1. You must observe Jupiter systematically. From the first time on the disc, you are unlikely to be able to see everything that your telescope is capable of, due to the low contrast of most of the details on Jupiter. Remember that the experience has not been canceled yet!
2. The atmosphere during observations should be as calm as possible. Catching a "seeing" (from the English seeing) is not very easy, especially for regions where the number of observing nights is small. However, even on a turbulent night, when the stars twinkle strongly, you can catch a few seconds and even minutes of a great picture!
3. Your optics must be clean, and the telescope, as we indicated above, cooled down.
4. Sometimes, to enhance the contrast of details, observers use special filters. If you have any - experiment with them!

Details on the disk of Jupiter

Jupiter and its satellites. View through a small amateur telescope. Drawing: Stellarium

The first thing that catches your eye when observing the planet - dark cloud belts and light zones in between. Even at a cursory glance, it is noticeable that the disk of Jupiter is crossed by brownish stripes of different widths and brightness. Having gained experience in visual observations, in these bands you can see a lot of interesting details - ledges, dark and light areas, loops and teeth. All this changes quite quickly with time: the period of rotation of Jupiter around its axis is about 10 hours. Therefore, each time you point the telescope at Jupiter, you will see a slightly different picture.

Next detail - Great Red Spot. In the clouds of Jupiter there are a large number of whirlwinds and hurricanes. The Great Red Spot (abbreviated as BRS) is the largest, most noticeable and longest storm on Jupiter. It is at least 300 years old (in fact, it could be much more), and the Spot is twice the size of the Earth! It will take some practice to see the BKP through a telescope, as over the past decades the brightness of the spot has been decreasing and for a beginner it almost blends into the surrounding background. Watching the BKP for an hour, you can see how it moves across the disk of Jupiter. The planet rotates very quickly, making one revolution in less than 10 hours, so during one January night you can see two passages of the Great Red Spot across the planet's disk.

Some of the details in Jupiter's atmosphere that experienced observers may notice. Drawing: realsky.ru

Finally, extremely interesting phenomena can be observed through a telescope. phenomena in the system of Galilean satellites of Jupiter. The four largest satellites of the planet - Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto - are already visible through prismatic binoculars. And with a telescope, you can follow in detail their movement in orbits around Jupiter. Rotating around a giant planet, the satellites either hide behind the planet's disk or pass in front of it, casting tiny shadows on the planet and creating pictures of unforgettable beauty! You can find out when this or that event will occur in the satellite system, again, from the Astronomical calendar for 2017 or using the services of an electronic planetarium (Stellarium and others).

Jupiter and its two moons, Ganymede (left) and Io (right). The shadow of Ganymede is visible on the disk of the planet. Photo: Damian Peach

That, in fact, is all you need to know to start observing Jupiter. Believe me, this planet is capable of captivating with a little experience and patience shown at the very beginning of observations!