Fun with Jupiter and its Galilean Moons

 

It was when I did the Jupiter is in Opposition post that I discovered that my new camera allowed me to see its four Galilean moons. I got excited then. I hoped that, even as Jupiter moved away from its position in opposition, I would be able to continue photographing it's moons. And I have been able to get quite a few remarkable shots, just as I hoped. Most nights this winter I've had to scale back my expectations because of the cloud cover that has moved through, and that has rankled me, but I suppose I ought to be grateful for what I have been able to record.  

I love retirement. I have been able to pursue whatever interests me. I'm not doing anything about photographing Jupiter that I couldn't have done as a kid, but I didn't get the chance back then. Second childhood, right?  And I don't want to invest a fortune in optics and try to rival the professional pictures I see on line. I'm more than satisfied to do the best I can with what I have. But what a shame it would be not to make the most of these years of freedom between my working years and my entry into eternity. I don't intend to waste them sitting around.  

Let me share a couple of sets of photos with you.  

This first series is entitled, Who Knew?

This is what Jupiter and its four moons looked like to me one night.  You'll notice that they appear to be at a steep angle right now.  The angle will change with the rotation of the earth.  
This (above) is the size they appear when I take the picture. I always use the same amount of zoom, about 80 power.   

Once I've uploaded the pictures from the camera into the computer, I can edit them. Basically, I just crop them so I get a closer view.  This is the same picture after cropping out a bunch of space... (Wow. Einstein taught about bending space. In the movie Dune, the Spacing Guild folded space. I crop it. Pretty impressive, huh?)

I'll use this sort of view most of the time with my other pictures.  

Now, this next one is the same picture yet again, but I've labeled the moons. There is blue C, Callisto,  green G, Ganymede, then yellow E, Europa, and orange I, Io.  

They happen to be arranged in this picture in the order they are arranged in their orbits around Jupiter, although the current positions seen above do not reflect the size of their orbits proportionally.   

Callisto's orbit is 1,170,000 miles from Jupiter

Ganymede's is 664,870 miles

Europa's 416,000 miles 

Io, 262,000 miles

The pictures I have been showing you were taken on the night of September 9, 2021. 

The next picture came as a surprise to me.  When I took it, I did not realize that there was anything 'extra' in it.  If you look back at the first picture in this post, you'll agree that the moons appear very small. Hard to spot anything out of the ordinary when I click, especially when I'm looking at the little 2" by 3" view screen on my camera. 

But, when I cropped the picture, blew it up so to speak, look at what I found!  What the heck is that, over on the right??  And guess what?  I discovered that it wasn't in the very next picture that I took less than a  minute later. Something zipped through.

Hmmm...I had to figure this out.... (no, not a helicopter) 

I did a search.  I typed in, 'satellites above NZ last night.'  

One of the sites made available to me was, Auckland, NZ, Sighting Opportunity, Spot the Station. 

I discovered on this site that the ISS, or International Space Station, had indeed passed overhead last night. It was visible for about two minutes. I went back to my picture and checked its time stamp. Sure enough, it was taken during that very brief window of time when the ISS was visible above New Zealand. It had moved from the southwest to the northeast. Perfect. Jupiter was in the northeast when I photographed it.  Mystery solved!  Wahoo! What are the odds?  

This next series is entitled, Nothing up my Sleeve...Presto!

There are only two moons visible right now.  I've seen that before.  The other two must be hidden either in front, where they get 'washed out' by the brightness of Jupiter, or they are behind it.  

I've labeled them now. 

This is picture 6, keep that in mind.

  

Now, I want you to look at this next pictures very closely, and notice what happened here.  

I'll tell you all about it in a minute. 

All the pictures in this series were taken on Oct. 13, 2021,  

Same picture, labeled...

This picture was taken just a short time (a matter of minutes) after Picture 6 was snapped. Callisto is in this shot, but not in Picture 6. There has not been time for Callisto to come out from behind Jupiter and move all across that much space. Nor was Callisto partially hidden behind Io. If you look closely at Picture 6, you won't see a double moon.  So, what's going on?  How come Callisto suddenly popped into view so far from Jupiter?  

Well, I wasn't savvy enough on my own to figure this out, but I discovered a website called Sky and Telescope. I was able to do all this labeling because of them and I learned why Callisto suddenly became visible in this photo. Have you figured it out maybe?  

Remember that Io is only 262,000 miles from Jupiter. Callisto is Way further out, behind  both Jupiter and Io in this picture.  The reason it popped into view suddenly, at a distance from Jupiter, (so far to the right) is that it was in Jupiter's shadow until just moments ago.  

Sky and Telescope told me when it would move out of Jupiter's shadow, to the minute, and I was ready with my camera to catch it when it did. It was in our line of sight but invisible just one minute before this picture was taken. I find that fascinating.  

Io might have popped into view the same way Callisto did, but it would have done so much closer to Jupiter, because the shadow gets wider the farther away from Jupiter it goes. (It had not been dark long enough tonight for me to have seen what Io might have done earlier.)  

All this is just amazing. There are countless photos available that are factors of ten better than mine. But I am so pleased with my own efforts. I'm discovering/researching it myself. The fact that I'm an old man when I'm doing it makes no difference. I'm not trying to be a professional. 

My 'nose was to the grindstone' most of my life, and now I'm getting the chance to play a little.  I am so grateful for that. And boy, what a powerful toy I have.  

I've taken pictures of Jupiter and its moons many nights. A couple of times, I have stayed up late. One night, it was almost 2 a.m. before I finally called it quits. To really do a good job and fully record the movements of the moons, I'd have to stay up all night.  But, like Bartleby, the scrivener famously said, "I'd prefer not to."  As much as I enjoy watching the night sky, I find that the 'Law of Diminishing Returns' starts kicking in for me some time after 11 p.m. most nights.

I've got to make another comment about Sky and Telescope. That site is so impressive. I understood something further when I looked at what's available there. I was so pleased.   

Here's what happened.  Ever since Jupiter was in opposition and I did that post, I have been taking pictures and studying how the moons move. It seemed to me, after a great deal of looking, that they were moving clock-wise. I came to believe that.  Then, I looked it up on Wikipedia and discovered that the moons actually move counter-clockwise. I was so disappointed. I was wrong!  

Then, the first time I was on Sky and Telescope, I found that they have icons for the 'direct view' and one for the 'inverted view.'  Sky and Telescope shows how Jupiter and its moons appear from the northern hemisphere with the direct view. The inverted view icon turns the image upside down; handy for those in the southern hemisphere. 

I suddenly realized that I had been right all along. I see things upside down here, so I was correct when I thought the moons were orbiting Jupiter in a clockwise direction!  They do so when you're standing on your head! I was elated. My observational skills triumph!!  

Well, that's it for tonight.  I do have one more thing to show you I guess.  I spotted something else one night.  I thought it might be a flying saucer at first but changed my mind as I brought it closer.  I'm going to continue to try for clearer pictures. Keep watching...          

These are a little clearer than the one I closed Jupiter is in Opposition with. I hope to do even better.

 A few stray thoughts:

• At the Opposition, the moons would have appeared right next to Jupiter as they came out from behind it because its shadow would have been directly behind it.  
• As time passes, Jupiter's shadow will change in direction. (angle) 
• The farther away from Jupiter a moon orbits, the farther from Jupiter it will appear when it exits its shadow. (eclipse) 
• Will there come a time when a moon enters the eclipse and disappears before it reaches Jupiter? I think it ought to. That would be interesting to see.  
• The moons appear in these pictures to be moving back and forth in one dimension mostly. The second dimension is not always obvious and of course they're really moving in three.  

 Got any more thoughts of your own?                                                          -djf

A look at the gardens in Waitakere Gardens.

These pictures were all taken from October 15th though the 18th, 2021. 

Believe it or not, it has been 10 months (at the time of this writing) since we moved into Waitakere Gardens.  Jeanne had hoped, when we arrived, that she would be able to do some gardening here.  It had always been a big part of her life.  However, we weren't sure how things worked and if it would be possible. There seemed to be such a well established gardening organization; would her abilities be needed or welcomed?   

In answer, I'd say that things have turned out every bit as well as we could have imagined. 

Today's post will show you what Jeanne's been up to since we arrived. She has been busy.  She is now an integral part of the diverse team that manages the hydroponics, the compost piles, the worm farm; that plants and harvests vegetables, flowers and fruit of several kinds. She is going to show you around the vegetable gardens today.    -djf

In the past ten months, Doug and I have settled into a comfortable routine, indulging in the keen interests that have defined who we are: Doug loves to explore, take photos with his magnificent new camera and, of course, write his blog. I, on the other hand, am a home body and enjoy gardening and cooking. In this blog entry, we have combined our various interests to give you a look at the gardens at Waitakere Gardens Retirement Village. Thank you, Doug, for the many photos you have taken as well as the nice layout in this blog.

I planted these cabbages last autumn (June) and wondered what would develop in my first try at winter gardening. The cabbage seedlings were purchased by another member of the gardening team and it was up to me to set them out. I just finished harvesting them this spring (October) and they are quite different from the solid sweet autumn cabbages we are used to in Michigan. They are loose leafed and quite sharp tasting.  All the cabbage were put out in the  Atrium for fellow residents to take as needed. They disappeared quickly.

The gardens are located on a steep slope on the southern side of the village, where the ground quickly descends to the Opanuku Stream. The brushy growth beyond the fence is the green space bordering the stream. The steep slope requires terraces. The bottom terrace next to the fence has more cabbages, planted at the same time at the top terrace. They are not doing as well because the soil is poor there and needs to be developed. It also tends to get very swampy there after heavy winter rainfalls. I've harvested a few cauliflower from there, and they are "buttons". The next terrace has carrots, onions and beets. The third tier up has cabbages, lettuces and more beets. The tier right below the nice cabbages has tomatoes. All these plants were started from seed by team member Dave, and I set them out.

We have a nice rhubarb patch, which is protected by heavy netting. The pukekos (a colorful marsh hen that lives in the wetland brush along the stream) seem to love eating the leaves. Rhubarb can be harvested year-round in Auckland.

This garden patch is on level ground and is by far the largest community garden plot. John started to dig deep trenches for potatoes in August, when it was still quite wintry. He is 89 years old, so he took his time. I planted the potatoes for him. Unfortunately, he had an accident and couldn't continue his potato patch. He managed to dig eight trenches. I finished the project for him, and we now have a huge potato patch with staggered harvest times. In the foreground, we have lovely zucchini, which Dave planted in pots for me.

This is the eastern-most community garden, comprised of more terraces. These cabbages are next in line for harvesting. The eastern garden terrace is mostly devoted to fruit trees.

Some winter carrots, which I'm pulling for the table we put in the Atrium. I planted these from seed last June. Winter carrots are very pale colored. They will bolt by summer if not pulled up now. Very sweet and tender. Beyond the carrots are silverbeet (Swiss chard to us). The residents are crazy about silverbeet; can't get enough of it, so we plant a lot.

More silverbeet. Below and to the right is a row of individual raised beds for residents to grow whatever they want. On the left are the four huge composting bins. Margaret oversees the compost project. Green bins for collection of vegetable waste are located throughout the garden. Margaret helps empty the bins once a week. Big strong custodial staff like Nick help her, as managing compost is quite heavy work. A bin is "finished" and ready for use about every three months. 

This looks further to the right, with the same carrot patch in the foreground. You can see more of the individual raised beds. And yes, that is a Monarch butterfly, and no, it is not a real one, only a wooden garden ornament. We grow huge veggies in New Zealand, but the Monarchs are the same size as North American ones. Monarchs are a much-loved butterfly here, and many people grow Swan plants (same family as milkweed) as food for them.

One of the many fruit trees in the eastern terrace; this is a peach. Note the green netting to keep out pukekos; they love silverbeet too.

The banana tree is huge, and  flourishes beyond the compost bins. This tree is Johanna's baby. The fruit is small and very delicious. She does a good job caring for all the fruit trees in the garden.

This is my individual raised garden plot, number 11. Carrots, cauliflower, garlic, snap peas and a tomato. Johanna loves flowers, too. The primroses are part of her project to "tidy up" the garden. Even the weeds growing from the cracks of the boards look pretty.

These are the hydroponic lettuce beds. Dave takes care of planting the lettuce seedlings and setting them out in little "pottles". He watches the fertilizer levels in the tank that irrigates the beds. His wife Deb and I recently scrubbed and cleaned out every tray in the hydroponic garden. A huge task, but Deb is great fun and I enjoyed working with her. Away in the background is a shed housing the Worm Farm. Arthur and Margaret take care of feeding the worms and harvesting their worm tea and castings. The Worm Farm, along with the compost bins, form the vital support base for all the other gardening endeavors. Not to mention a wonderful example of community recycling and food production.

Here is where Dave is growing his tomato seedlings. They are available for residents to plant in their garden plots or take up to their balcony or patio to grow in a pot. Another rather anemic butterfly, also a garden ornament. I told you Kiwis love Monarchs!

The gardens also support a vineyard, which provides table grapes. 

A plea for more help in the gardens. I've mentioned quite a few people who are involved, but we could always use more help. I hope we get a few more volunteers to help with the harvesting which is done three times a week.

Here is what gives me a great deal of pleasure; the offering of fresh vegetables for the residents! (The pink highlighted lists behind and above the gardening wagon list "places of interest" for Covid 19 exposure events. Yes, we are still in lockdown, but managing to adhere to restrictions in a creative way.)

After all that hard work, I am resting on my balcony, surrounded by flowers and vegetables. The flowers are geraniums started from cuttings taken from our old place on Harvest drive. The two buckets (dark green and light green) hold potatoes for the Village "potato growing contest". By mid December the potatoes will be gathered and decanted. The winner will be the one having the most number of potatoes.

Here is what I am looking at as I relax on my lovely patio couch. Sheer bliss! - jmf

Clouds and moon

Are you getting tired of my pictures of the moon?  I hope not. You can run through them quickly if you are, or even, (gasp) click out of my post... (can't believe I said that)  

Are you still with me?  

The first set of these pictures turned out rather oddly. The clouds were so heavy one night the end of May that I doubted that I'd be able to see the moon through them at all. And by eye, I couldn't very well. The camera picked it up better, I suppose because of the magnification. 

There was a fair amount of diffused moonlight coming through though so I hoped that I'd get lucky.  The clouds were racing by...

It was warm that night, and humid. I don't know if the traffic passing our village was actually less that night than it usually is, or if it was the foggy conditions that made it seem quieter to me. I do know that I found it very agreeable. I wish now that I had turned my camera and taken a shot of the Atrium as well as the moon pictures. You'd have a better idea of the conditions.    

I think that possibly I appreciate these pictures more than you'll be able to because I remember the almost magical feeling of the evening. Had I been in Michigan I would have been listening to frog song as well.  

Anyway, take a look at how they turned out. 

The settings of the camera have now been changed. The difference is striking.  These were taken, for what it's worth, on the camera's moon setting.  Some of the ground fog has also moved aside for the moment.  

This last one really turned out great.  The terminator (line) is at the 'top' of the moon and I therefore got some craters/mountains along that line. Love it.            -djf

                                                                        

Get thee to a fernery!

To the best of my knowledge, there was no Elizabethan slang definition for the word fernery, so you can be assured that it is only with the best of intentions that I suggest to you what I do in my title. 

Its meaning here is completely unlike Hamlet's dismissal of Ophelia with his insult suggesting where she should 'get,' but it's obvious that I paraphrased Shakespeare's line. My reasoning for doing so is this. We have a wonderfully cool, shady fern glen just a couple of minutes away from our apartment. A fernery would be a perfect place to sit and relax, maybe even read some Shakespeare; and possibly about the nunnery which Hamlet mentioned. 

And you know, thinking more about it, a fernery like ours would be a great addition to a nunnery, if by nunnery you are referring to its usual definition, and not the meaning of the Londoner's disrespectful slang. **

Our fernery is very small but I think it's an integral part of the gardens here in the village. We first enjoyed it on a hot day last summer. It seemed 10 degrees cooler under the ferns.  And I cannot enter it with out remembering my years of picking fiddlehead ferns along the Big Cedar River each spring. How could I not?  

Enough talk.  Let me show you some pictures.  

Jeanne in the fernery, on that hot day that I mentioned, gazing up into the canopy.  

This is what she sees.  

Michigan fiddleheads. Picked in the spring, just as they come out of the ground along the Big Cedar River. Boiled briefly in salted water, I always thought they tasted like a cross between asparagus and green beans. Next to several species of mushrooms, these were my favorite wild edible. 

If Michigan has fiddleheads, then New Zealand has 'double-bass fiddleheads.'  See how they grow....(This is one very massive fiddlehead unfurling right now in our fernery. The time-lapse of the photos was 8/30 to 9/30.

Here's a shot of a mini-tree fern. 

There are so many plants here that I know nothing about.  This one is a long vine-like thing that grows along the border to the fernery.  

Obviously, none of thee can get to our fernery. I hope however, that each of you can sometimes get to some restful place, whether that be in a backyard, garden, park, forest, blind, or even a favorite chair and room.  

During my working years especially, I needed to get away, usually on a Sunday afternoon, to our land, and relax and unwind before starting another hectic week.  

To me, looking up at the fronds on these black tree ferns in Henderson is not too dissimilar to looking up at the white cedar tree canopies of Wilson.   

** I've read that in Elizabethan times, (during which Shakespeare lived) nunnery was used as a slang term for a brothel.          -djf