Project Jupiter

Attachment C: Press Release

Local amateur astronomer Tim Tyler has recently completed a very unusual observing project with his/her own telescope. One of the goals of Project Jupiter, an American Association of Amateur Astronomers (www.AstroMax.com) project was to determine the weight of the Planet Jupiter from a series of observations of the planet that were made in the early morning hours.

Tim used his reflecting type of telescope and observational skills on Project Jupiter. Tim became interested in astronomy when Halley’s comment appeared in1986, and became more involved about 3years ago, and observes from Angola, Ind. Tim is a member of the American Association of Amateur Astronomers ("Quad-A"), an internet based club.

When Tim gathered sufficient Project Jupiter data, the data was processed by an Quad-A computer program. On eight mornings Tim measured the separation of each of the four largest moons of Jupiter using the diameter of Jupiter as a reference size. Based on Tim’s data, the weight of Jupiter was determined at nearly 4.17 billion-billion-billion Lbs, about 317 times a much as the entire Earth weighs. Amazingly, that weight determined agrees to within 0.3% of NASA data !

Tim said an unique aspect of Project Jupiter was working "with other amateurs from across the country using the Internet as the sole means of contact." Tim plans to continuing with amateur astronomy, having already completed an Astronomical League program of systematically observing features of the Moon. He is also nearing completion of an Astronomical League project of observing external galaxies and gaseous clouds near stars. In the last couple of years he has personally viewed six comments, all but one of the planets orbiting the Sun, and one asteroid. He as also interested in specialized Quad-A projects, such as determining the distance to the Moon.

This Fall six other amateur astronomers from across the United States are also participating in the Quad-A sponsored Project Jupiter. Tim is the third Quad-A member in the US to complete Project Jupiter.