Family stargazing

Jupiter has a total of 79 officially recognised moons. Only four can be seen using a telescope as they perform their orbital dance around Jupiter. If you have a scope, point it at Jupiter and using a low to medium power eyepiece, get your young observers to sketch what they see. Mark the positions of the Moons as dots either side of the planet. Sometimes a moon may be behind (occulted) or in front of (transiting) Jupiter and won’t be visible. Use our graphic on page 45 to help identify them. Remember, your scope may show a view which is upside down, ie, with south up. www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/stargazing