To be sure, the Moon occults numerous planets worldwide per year. This strange view is revealed throughout egress, and runs out till 12:56 Universal Time (UT) when Europas shadow slips previous Jupiter.
A map of the visibility footprint for Wednesday mornings occultation. Credit: Occult 4.2
A line across western North America running from the Pacific coast of Mexico, up through Arizona and Nevada, and across western British Columbia has the best seat in the house, as the occultation takes place low to the east at dawn before sunrise. East of the Rockies, expect to see the event occur after dawn, though the 2 will still make a pretty pair at dawn.
The view from Flagstaff, Arizona on the morning of May 17th. Credit: Stellarium
If skies are clear, Jupiter will make a good binocular or telescopic target in the daytime sky, hanging right on the limb of the Moon. Your best bet is to acquire the set before daybreak and simply track them up into the daytime sky … though make sure to physically obstruct the blinding Sun from view behind a house or hill.
Jupiter, (arrowed) visible in the daytime near the Moon. Credit: Dave Dickinson
Jupiter is 5.8 Astronomical Units (AU) distant throughout the occultation, and will ingress (pass behind) the bright limb of the subsiding Moon, taking just over a minute to vanish before coming back along the dark nighttime edge. The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) has precise times, for chosen locations.
… And A Rare Double-Transit
To be sure, the Moon occults several planets worldwide annually. What makes this one so odd is that two of Jupiters major moons Io and Europa are casting shadows on the Jovian cloud-tops while the occultation is underway (!) This weird view is exposed during egress, and runs out until 12:56 Universal Time (UT) when Europas shadow slips previous Jupiter.
Its difficult to tell just how unusual this is, however of the 231 lunar occultations of Jupiter in the 21st century, I d wager that none feature a double shadow transit. These tend to occur in brief seasons, as the inner moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede are in a 4:2:1 resonance.
An animation (sped up 30x) of the double shadow transit throughout egress. Credit: Starry Night
Views in Time and Space
Complete stranger still is to consider what you would see set down on the Jovian cloud tops, as the Moon transits in front of the Earth … throughout a solar eclipse:
Though its often said that Earth is the only place that experiences near-perfect solar eclipses owing to the apparent size of the Moon versus the Sun, the Jovian system experiences almost the very same situation from the surface area of its major moons throughout mutual eclipse-transit season, though totality is much faster, just a couple of lots seconds long. The next shared eclipse season takes place in 2026.
The view from Jupiter in the shadow of Io, on May 17th. Credit: Starry Night
The next cycle of occultations of Jupiter by the Moon begins on September 8th, 2026.
Well keep in mind if anyone occurs to be carrying the occultation live, and if any images turn up. Now, weather prospects for Wednesday look to favor many of the western U.S. with clear skies.
Weather condition potential customers across CONUS for the morning of May 17th. Credit: NOAA
Do not miss Wednesday mornings unusual lunar occultation of Jupiter, as another example of the fantastical clockwork Universe we share together.
Adjusted from a short article originally published on Universe Today.
The occultation is the last of 4 for Jupiter in 2023, and favors western North America at dawn. The Moon is an old waning crescent simply 5% brightened, while -2 nd magnitude Jupiter is 34″ across. Both are 26 degrees from the Sun on the early morning of May 17th.
Credit: Artists illustration utilizing NASA pictures of Jupiter and the Moon
Make certain to set your alarm for early Wednesday morning, as the Moon occults the King of Planets.
Even the most unlikely events are bound to coincide if you watch the sky long enough. Just such an unusual incident occurs this Wednesday morning, when the Moon occults (passes in front of) Jupiter as seen from our Earthly viewpoint … with a strange telescopic twist.
Wednesdays occultation, as Jupiter approaches the Moon. Credit: Stellarium
The occultation is the last of four for Jupiter in 2023, and favors western North America at dawn. The Moon is an old waning crescent simply 5% lit up, while -2 nd magnitude Jupiter is 34″ across. Both are 26 degrees from the Sun on the early morning of May 17th.