Jupiter Icy moons Explorer ("JUICE") imaged from Brisbane 15th April 2023

[Dennis]

I had the opportunity to grab some images of the ESA Jupiter Icy moons Explorer ("JUICE") from Brisbane on 15th April 2023. The original launch date was 13th April, but this was delayed due to poor weather until the 14th April 2023. On that evening, apart from a few clouds, JUICE was below my obstructed horizon.

The Jupiter Icy moons Explorer ("JUICE") is an ESA mission launched on 14th April 2023 from French Guiana (ELA-3) on an Ariane 5. Its period and area of operations will overlap with NASA's Europa Clipper mission launching in 2024.

The next evening, 15th April, I used the JPL Horizons System to generate an ephemeris for my location and observing period, including the RA and DEC coordinates for both J2000 and Apparent data.

I plugged the J2000 coordinates into the “Object Requestor” “Enter Coordinate” Dialog in ST4 Imaging, which centred me in the predicted field.

After a GoTo and a couple of test exposures I was astonished to find two objects moving along the same trajectory? The “main” object I assume was JUICE and the other trail must have been the rocket booster? These are the 2 horizontal trails, the diagonal trail at bottom left zipped through the field early on in the series.

I managed to record 60x60 sec exposures (some cloud interrupted) and to make things a little more interesting, we had a power outage part way through the evening and I had to re-boot everything and start over.

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer
FL=2100mm at F10.3.
QHY268M Camera.

15th April 2023, 9:13PM to 10:14PM AEST
UTC: 2023-04-15T11:13 to 12:14.
Brisbane.

Cheers

Dennis

   

   

[PMSchu]

Those are some nice images, Dennis. There's more up there than NEOs.

Thanks for sharing.

Phil S.

[theskyhound]

Those are some nice images, Dennis. There's more up there than NEOs.

Lol