Observing Solar System Planets

[Kosa]

I recently got my new Opticon Horizon telescope.
76mm , 900mm focal length

Today soon after sunset I started to explore the planets.
I started with Jupiter. At 90x power I got a very clear image of this magnificent planet and its four galilean moons! While observing I always try to imagine what could be going on on the surface. I imagine the raging volcanoes on Io. And I imagine that the dot I'm looking at - which is called Europa - might contain life in its underground ocean.
Believe me the feeling of it cannot be compared to looking at images on your computer screen!

After that I directed the telescope towards the distant Uranus. It was barely visible to the naked eye and even with 144 power it was just a little different from the stars it was surrounded by. You can identify it for its pale blue color and its small disk-like shape.
It is a big planet but 3 billion kilometers is a huge distance!

After this I went night owl and waited 5 hours awake to be able to see Mars and Saturn.

Mars is very distinctive for its reddish orange color. However the resolving power is just not good enough to make out the polar ice caps but the shape and pale color diversities on the surface can be seen. I imagined the Curiosity rover collecting samples and exploring the surface at the very moment I was looking there.

While observing Saturn I was stunned! Not only because I could see the famous rings of her for the first time in my life! But I was shocked to make out a tiny dot in the darkness. A dot I did not expect to see at all - Titan! Such a small object so far away. The only moon in the solar system with atmosphere and liquid on its surface and I had the chance to see it with my own eyes! I can not describe the feeling. I could be looking at it all night.

Right now I'm waiting for Venus to rise! This time it is the brightest object after the Moon and I just can't sleep 'til I've seen it!

I don't know if any of you guys are interested in observing the night sky but if you are I welcome any ideas what to check out in deep space. I have very limited knowledge about it. I would like to see Gliese 581 Red Dwarf a lot but it seems to be a bit hard to find.

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[chase.way]

That is great man, I know what you are saying. My friend had a week telescope but we would stare at moon for several hours just admiring how it looks searching for things and shaped on the surface.

Try to find ISS , its moving quite fast so you need to prepare where to find it. I think it makes a trip around earth every 1 and half hours so it can be tricky.

Maybe there is current position of it somewhere on the net...not sure.

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Either way - when you let go, and stop holding on so tightly, life can actually be fun - you can't steer a train, but you can RIDE it!

[r3vange]

That is great man, I know what you are saying. My friend had a week telescope but we would stare at moon for several hours just admiring how it looks searching for things and shaped on the surface.

Try to find ISS , its moving quite fast so you need to prepare where to find it. I think it makes a trip around earth every 1 and half hours so it can be tricky.

Maybe there is current position of it somewhere on the net...not sure.

There's a NASA app for Android which tells you when the ISS will be visible with the naked eye according to your GPS location

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[Kosa]

Thanks guys! I'm glad someone has similar interests as I. And thanks for the hint on finding the ISS! Great idea!

By the way I stayed awake that night and saw Venus too! It was just as amazing as the others. It's pretty close to Earth now and is very bright! I was so tired the next day but it was worth it. :-) A week of overcast sky is coming.

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