JUPITER STATS
Apparent diameter: 46"
Sys II CM: 166°

The sketch at left records Jupiter as he appeared in my 10-inch, f/4.5 Starfinder equatorial Newtonian. I used magnifications of 247X and 388X, as well as an 80A filter. The light blue filter knocks down glare and improves contrast within Jupiter's atmosphere.

A dark chocolate rod lies just within the northern border of the North Equatorial Belt (NEB). The rod has just completed a transit of the central meridian (CM). A dark brown disturbance connects the rod to the southern border of the NEB near the preceding limb. These features are subtle against the rusty, orange-red NEB. I suspect a more pronounced disturbance within the NEB near the limb but cannot be certain of this feature. The North Temperate Belt (NTB) is gunmetal blue at the lower magnification and charcoal at 388X. A subtle, thin North North Temperate Belt (NNTB) is occasionally seen splitting the difference between the NTB and the North Polar Region (NPR). The South Polar Region (SPR) is a lighter gray than the NPR. The NPR terminates at the South South Temperate Belt (SSTB), which extends from the CM to the following limb. A narrow white South Temperate Zone (STZ) separates the SSTB from the South Temperate Belt (STB). Across the wide South Tropical Zone (STrZ), the South Equatorial Belt (SEB) presents as usual: northern and souther components separated by a narrow creme longitudinal rift. The SEB is navy gray in color. The Equatorial Belt (EB) pops in and out of view.