Learn About The Solar System’s Largest Planet - Jupiter Predict Great Red Spot Transit Times, Satellite Transits and Eclipses And Times of Mutual Satellite Phenomena See How Jupiter And Satellites Interact With Animations! Jupsat Pro is a utility for Windows PCs which provides a range of information on Jupiter and graphically displays the planet (including its Great Red Spot) and the positions of its four main satellites, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto (in real time).

Features

The version reviewed in the April 2005 issue of Sky & Telescope was V1.32. The current version is V1.75. New features introduced since V1.32 are listed below along with the other features of the software.

* NASA TV screen displays a live video feed direct from NASA (needs a high-speed internet connection)
* Jupiter In The News screen displays the latest web-linked news items about Jupiter
* General Astronomy News screen displays the latest web-linked news items from the world of astronomy
* Links to online resources about Jupiter, its satellites and missions and various radio astronomy resources relating to Jupiter
* Calculates times of satellite eclipses by Jupiter’s shadow
* The Satellite Tracks diagram now matches what would be seen through the selected optics (previously, the diagram showed the tracks as seen through a Newtonian relector)
* The Satellite Tracks diagrams can now be printed out
* The Great Red Spot Transit times can now be printed out Calculates and displays the positions of Jupiter’s four main (Galilean) moons - Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto for any date and time
* Displays side-on and plan views of Jovian system
* The display can be changed to support the view as seen through different optical configurations
* The position of the Great Red Spot is shown for the selected time and date
* Shadows of the satellites are displayed crossing Jupiter’s disk
* The displays can be animated to show the movement of the satellites, their shadows and the Great Red Spot
* The displays can be zoomed so as to see satellite phenomena in greater detail
* Times of Great Red Spot transits are calculated for the selected month
* A diagram of the satellite tracks for the selected month can be viewed
* Times of satellite phenomena (Transits, occultations, etc.) are calculted for the selected date
* Compass directions show the orientation of Jupiter and its satellites depending on what hemisphere you live in and what optical configuration you have selected
* View rotating maps of each of the four satellites
* Displays the Rise, Transit and Set times of Jupiter for your location so you can make the most of your observing opportunities
* Displays the position of Jupiter (in RA/Dec and Alt/Az) along with its magnitude and distance amongst other data
* Numeric distances (in Jupiter radii) for each of the satellites are displayed
* Data for satellites that are transiting or being occulted by Jupiter are displayed in different colours for easy identification

Main Screen Layout

NOTE: The various windows in this application can be moved around the screen by clicking on the window title and dragging the window to the desired position on screen. Jupsat Pro "remembers" where you last positioned a window so it will appear at that location on screen when it’s next opened.

Jupsat Pro does not use the conventional Windows’ look and feel. Instead, a unique (and hopefully pleasing) interface has been designed for the application. The minimum resolution required for Jupsat Pro is 1024x768.

Menu

Across the top of the screen is the menu bar offering icons for viewing Great Red Spot transit times, times of Satellite Phenomena, the Satellite Tracks diagram, changing optical view, displaying a rotating satellite map, animating the Jovian system, changing the time/date, NASA TV, Jupiter News, Web Resources, Help, About, Shop and Exit functions.