Solar, Lunar, and Planetary Observing
SkyTools offers many useful features to aid in Solar, Lunar & Planetary observing. Keeping with our observing focus, when drawn on a chart, care is taken to display something more akin to what the eye might see at the telescope rather than a highly detailed photograph.
The eyepiece view best resolution mode simulates the best resolution you can expect with your current conditions and your telescope, to give you an idea of what sort of detail you might be able to see.
The Great Red Spot
The GRS of Jupiter is always plotted in the correct position, even historically. These days it is pale and a little difficult to spot. Our charts provide confidence, knowing what to look for and where. The view matches what you can see, and is oriented the same as your telescope.
Click to expand - Jupiter showing the Great Red Spot position
Feature Labels
Features are labelled on the Moon and Mars
Click to expand - Mars with labeled surface features
Planetary Satellites
The satellites of the planets that can be observed in amateur instruments are supported in SkyTools. They are displayed on the charts and their detectability is calculated based on your local conditions, instrument, and skyglow created by the planet itself.
The following planet satellites have accurate positions, magnitudes, and angular sizes:
- Mars: Phobos and Deimos
- Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Amalthea, Himalia. Pro only: Elara, Pasiphae, Sinope, Lysithea, Carme, Ananke
- Saturn: Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus. Pro only: Phoebe
- Uranus: Arial, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon. Pro only: Miranda
- Neptune: Triton. Pro only: Nereid
- Pluto: Charon
Click to expand - Mars moons in eyepiece view
Click to expand - Jupiter’s moon Himalia seen in the eyepiece of a 12.5-inch telescope. The stars are plotted realistically showing all of the stars you can see, but not more. This along with the correct orientation makes it possible to identify the moon with confidence.
Satellite Events
Satellite transits, eclipses, occultations and shadow transits are predicted for: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Titan, Rhea, Dione, and Tethys.
Click to expand - Rhea shadow transit on Saturn
Click to expand - Multiple satellite shadows on Jupiter
Satellite maximum elongations (times when farthest from the planet, and most easily observed) are also predicted for all satellites.
Solar Observing
Charts show the latest image of the sun and sunspots from the SOHO satellite.
Click to expand - Latest SOHO satellite image showing sun and sunspots
Plan for Lunar Eclipses
Search for eclipses in the past or future and obtain accurate times for each eclipse phase. Find how well you will be able to see the next one from your location.
Click to expand - Lunar eclipse preview and timing