[meteorite-list] Cub Scouts and a Star Party

[Walter Branch]

Hello Carl,

Thanks, but since the orbit of Uranus lies outside that of Jupiter, it would 
be impossible for Uranus to transit across the face of Jupiter.

Uranus and Jupiter are easily in the same field of view in a small finder 
scope.  With increased magnification, Uranus appears very un-starlike.  It 
is disk shaped, rather than a pinpoint.

I think you are confusing terms such as eclipse, occultation, transits, and 
conjunctions.  What you are referring to is the conjunction of Jupiter and 
Uranus.  See the table here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunction_(astronomy_and_astrology)#2010

I have been observing Jovian transits for 40 years.  This was a transit.  In 
fact, my charting software, Skytools 2, indicates it was Jupiter's moon Io.

For more info on transits, see here:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/javascript/3307071.html

-Walter