Jupsat Pro - Jupiter Observer's Software Toolkit
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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!
[1]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).
Read the _Sky & Telescope_ Review Here [2]
FEATURES
The version reviewed in the April 2005 issue of _Sky Europa, yellow;
Ganymede, orange and Callisto, light blue. Numerical information is
normally printed in black. When a satellite is transiting Jupiter,
(passing in front of Jupiter's disk), then it's numerical information
is printed in Yellow. If a satellite is being occulted by Jupiter,
(behind Jupiter's disk), it's corresponding numerical information is
printed in Blue.
SELECTING A DIFFERENT DATE AND TIME
Jupsat Pro defaults to running in realtime. In order to use
particular date and time (other than the current), you need to click
the stop button to stop Jupsat Pro from running in realtime. You can
then edit the date and time in the top numeric pane as required.
To switch Jupsat Pro back into realtime mode, simply click the clock
icon.
GREAT RED SPOT TRANSIT TIMES
Clicking the red circle icon produces a table of GRS transit times
for the selected month and year. Times listed are in Local Time.
The Great Red Spot's longitude changes over time and will need to be
updated at some stage. The new value is entered into the top pane
beside the RED SPOT LONGITUDE (SYSTEM II) heading. Jovian System II
longitudes are used within the calculations.
Dates for every day in the month are printed down the left of the
diagram. Days are shown against alternate black and dark-grey
backgrounds. If the month or year is changed on the main Jupsat Pro
window, the GRS Transit screen will automatically update with the
transit times for the new month.
The printer icon at the top left of the window allows you to print
out the Great Red Spot Transit times.
SATELLITE PHENOMENA TIMES
Clicking the icon of Jupiter with a satellite produces a table of
satellite phenomena for the selected date. Times listed are in Local
Time.
The data is displayed in four columns: date, satellite, time of
phenomena and phenomena description. If the day, month or year is
changed on the main Jupsat Pro window, the Phenomena screen will
automatically update with the satellite phenomena for the new date.
SATELLITE TRACKS DIAGRAM
Clicking the paw-prints icon calls up a diagram that displays the
satellite tracks diagram for the selected month. The tracks
calculations are based on your Local Time.
Dates are listed down the side of the diagram. Jupiter is
represented by the parallel white lines down the middle of the
diagram. The colours of the tracks are the same as those used for
their corresponding satellites on the side and plan view windows: Io -
White; Europa - Yellow; Ganymede - Orange; Callisto - Light Blue.
If the month or year is changed on the main Jupsat Pro window, the
Tracks diagram will automatically update to show the correct tracks
for the new date.
The printer icon at the top left of the window allows you to print
out the Satellite Tracks diagram.
CHANGING OPTICAL VIEW
When viewing Jupiter through binoculars, it is 'the right way up';
i.e. it's orientation is the same in binoculars as it appears in the
sky. When looking through an astronomical telescope, however, Jupiter
is inverted (upside down). Four icons on the toolbar represent the
view that Jupsat Pro is displaying:
BINOCULARS:
These represent the 'normal' view
TELESCOPE:
Represents the view through an astronomical telescope (upside-down
and flipped left to right)
STAR DIAGONAL:
Represents the view through a telescope that uses a diagonal
(upside-down)
TELESCOPE WITH STAR DIAGONAL:
Represents the view as seen through a telescope that flips the view
left to right only.
The view can be cycled by clicking the currently active icon.
VIEW WINDOW
[3]Clicking the eye icon calls up a menu that lets you display a
rotating satellite in place of the plan-view window. This lets you see
what the Jovian satellites look like in closeup.
There's also an option to display Jupiter in this window, This
display is designed to show where the Red Spot is on Jupiter (as seen
from Earth). Jupiter itself does not rotate in the way that the
satellite images do. The Jupiter view is tied to Jupiter as it appears
in the Side-View window and is, essentially, a greatly magnified view
of Jupiter from that window. However, if you turn on the animation
feature, Jupiter in this window will rotate synchronously with Jupiter
in the Side-View window.
The last option in the menu lets you return to the Plan-View.
ANIMATION
To the left of the Jupsat Pro title are three icons - a fast forward
icon, a stop icon and a clock icon. The Fast-Forward icon puts Jupsat
Pro into animation mode. Calculations are performed for the animation
interval specified on the top numeric pane (this defaults to 5
minutes). You can change the interval value to slow down or speed up
the animation of the satellites' movement or change the interval type
from minutes to seconds to really slow down what's happening.
Jupiter also rotates in the animation so you can see the Great Red
Spot moving as well as the satellites.
To stop the animation from running, either click the Stop icon (the
time and date will remain at the values where the animation was
stopped) or click the Clock icon (the time and date will return to the
current time and Jupsat Pro will return to realtime mode).
NASA TV
Introduced in V1.70, this new screen shows streaming video direct
from NASA TV. It requires a high-speed or broadband internet
connection in order to be used. What's shown is a live (not a
pre-recorded) stream.
At top left of the screen are two arrows. The "Up" arrow makes the
screen stay above all other windows on your desktop. You can still
move the window around by clicking and dragging on the window title
(the main Jupsat Pro screen will reappear when you do this). The
"Down" arrow stops the window from always being on top.
The "NASA Television" icon beside the "X" exit icon calls up the
current NASA TV Schedule so you can see what programs of interest are
coming up.
The controls at the bottom of the sceen allow you to to stop or
restart the streaming video, turn the sound on or off and change the
volume. Since this is a live feed, the Return To Start and Go To End
buttons will have no effect.
[4]
[5]
ASTRONOMY from informational sites that describe the planet and its
satellites to sites that concern Jupiter's radio emiissions (and how
you can hear them), to sites detailing previous missions to Jupiter
and its satellites along with a wide range of images and movies of the
Jovian system.
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* Remember that all future upgrades are free so you'll never have to
pay more for the software.
* Please feel free to contact me [6] with any suggestions for
improving Jupsat Pro. The software has been improved over the years
with suggestions from people like you.
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD [2.5MB FILE]
[7]
GET YOUR COPY OF "JUPSAT PRO" NOW FOR ONLY $24.95
[8]
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