When Does the Great Red
Spot crosses Jupiter¹s Central Meridian
(Universal Dates & Times)
The imaginary line down the center of the planet's disk from pole
to pole. The spot has
been pale orange-tan in recent years. It appears slightly
more distinct when Jupiter is viewed through
a light green or blue
filter as do the dark cloud belts.
These predictions assume the Red Spot is at Jovian System II longitude
74°, the most
recent value provided by John W. McAnally of the Association
of Lunar and Planetary Observers.
If it has moved elsewhere, it will transit 1 2/3 minutes
late for every 1° of longitude greater than
74°, or 1 2/3 minutes early for every 1° less
than 74°.
Markings on Jupiter appear closer to the central meridian than to the limb--
and thus well
placed for viewing-for 50 minutes before and after their
transit times.
Here is a Java applet to calculate the Transits times of the Red Spot from
Sky
& Telescope.
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About Universal Time (UT). To convert a UT time and
date to a standard time and date in
North America, subtract
the
following hours: to get
Eastern Standard Time, 5;
CST, 6;
MST, 7;
PST, 8;
Alaska, 9; or
Hawaii, 10.
To obtain daylight saving time, subtract one hour
less than these values. If you get
a negative number of hours, add 24; in this case
the result is on the date before the UT date given.
For example, 6:45 UT on the 9th of the month is
2:45 a.m. on the 9th EDT, and 11:45 p.m.
on the 8th PDT.
You may find it easier just to remember when 0:00
UT happens in your time zone.
This is on the previous date at
7 p.m. EST,
6 p.m. CST,
5 p.m. MST, or 4 p.m. PST.
When daylight saving time ("summer time") is in effect:
8 p.m. EDT,
7 p.m. CDT,
6 p.m. MDT, or 5 p.m. PDT.
ALPO Jupiter
Section
GREAT JUPITER
page from Dept. of Physics & Astronomy Stephen F. Austin
State U.
tjt