AstroGrav Help /Sample Simulations /Solar System /Viewpoints /Jupiter 1612Version 5.1

Jupiter 1612

This simulation shows Jupiter and its moons as seen by Galileo in late December 1612. It is of interest mainly because Neptune appeared close to Jupiter in late December 1612 and early January 1613, and was actually occulted by Jupiter on 3rd January. Neptune was shown in some of Galileo's drawings, but he assumed it was star or stars, and failed to recognize its true nature. Had he done so, he would have added the discovery of Neptune (long before the discovery of Uranus) to his many scientific achievements.

The evolution time step has been set to one day, so that you can easily step from one day to the next.

You can find out more about Galileo's observations of Neptune from the following website:

https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1997BaltA...6...97S

Since different computers run at different speeds, you may need to edit the evolution time step to get the simulation to run at an acceptable rate.