Planets

Mars

Seasonal variations on Mars produce changes in its northern and southern polar ice caps. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Mars

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) & Mars 10 February 2023

Jupiter

Jupiter's surface is entirely gaseous, and various patterns in the atmosphere can be seen. The most prominent features are two dark bands and the giant red spot which is an enormous storm that has persisted for centuries. In 1989, one of Jupiter's distinctive bands faded away, and was visible again a few years later. Comet Shoemaker–Levy broke apart in July 1992 and large pieces collided with Jupiter in July 1994, causing several large impact scars in the atmosphere that persisted for many months. In my poor resolution photo below taken on 22 July 1994, you can see two darker impact scar areas at the top of the planet; one scar area is just to the right of center and the other near the left top edge.

This large planet rotates 360 degrees in only 10 hours, so its giant red spot is only visible for 5 hours at a time. Jupiter has between 80 and 95 moons. The four closest and largest moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Jupiter
18 August 2022

Jupiter
4 October 2022

Jupiter
9 November 2022

Jupiter
5 December 1989

Jupiter
22 July 1994

Jupiter & 4 largest moons; 25 Sep 87

Jupiter

Saturn

Saturn has 83 moons. As seen from Earth, the tilt angle of its rings changes. Every 13 to 15 years, Earth passes through the plane of Saturn's rings, and when seen edge on, they almost disappear.