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[QUOTE="HoustonCuse, post: 204674, member: 87"]
If you have binoculars (50mm or larger), take them outside, aim at the moon to get the focus sharp, then let your eyes adjust to the dark again. Now aim at one of those dots (Jupiter). If you concentrate, you'll be able to see more very tiny dots - Jupiter's moons. Up to four of Jupiter's moons are visible this way, depending on where they are in their orbits.
 
They are called the Galilean moons because they are among the first objects Galileo resolved with the first telescope. His observation of these dots led him to the conclusion that they orbited Jupiter. This in turn lent extreme credence to the idea that the Earth is not the center of the universe and got him in hot holy water with the Pope.
 
If you have bino's bigger than 50s the moons will be very easy to see. 50 or below it might be a challenge. One tip: Get very dark adjusted and get to a place where an absolute minimum of stray light can find your eye. Avert your vision from Jupiter, but concentrate on it while looking through the binoculars. This is an old astronomer's trick and is hard to master, but once you do, you'll be able to see things you can't by staring directly at them.
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