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[timothy]

Hi
I knew that would get your attention. While looking up some data on jupiter in my Nortons star atlas I started reading about the moons. It says that every six years when the earth passes through the plane of the satellites, on rare occasions, all four moons may simultaneously be invisible due to transit, occultation or eclipse. the next two dates given are.

2008 may 22 3h 51m begins - 4h 10m ends
2009 sep 03 4h 44m begins - 6h 30m ends

these are UT times

It's got to be wierd seeing jupiter with no moons!

[Centaur]

Thanks for the heads-up, Timothy. Actually those are given in Dynamical (Ephemeris) Time. Subtract a minute for Universal Time.

For the entire 2008 event, Jupiter will be beneath the horizon for North American observers.

Chicagoans will be able to observe the entire 2009 event, as Jupiter will appear in the south with a nearly full Moon close by. Below are details regarding each satellite.

I. Io will first be occulted by Jupiter, then appear eclipsed (in shadow).

II. Europa will be transiting across the face of Jupiter.

III. Ganymede will be transiting across the face of Jupiter.

IV. Callisto will appear eclipsed (in shadow).

The next event will occur on 2019 NOV 09 beneath Chicago's horizon. We currently do not witness such events because the plane of Jupiter's satellites appears tilted about 3 degrees, which causes Callisto to pass above or below Jupiter's poles.

Tip: This topic may have been better placed in the forum for "Conjunctions, Occultations and Alignments". It really is not related to space exploration or fresh news.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This topic may have been better placed in the forum for "Conjunctions, Occultations and Alignments

So it is written, so let it be done...

Also,

I too have the Nortons, but I think the data in the back makes the book bulkier than need be. I recently paged thru Chicago Astronomer Alan's Cambridge Star Atlas, and I like the layout better. One reads it horizontally with the data of the given map on the facing page, instead of Nortons, which offers the data on the reverse pages.

Both good books, but I think I will get me a Cambridge atlas as well.

[timothy]

I,m sure there will be cool stuff that happens before 2009, but it sure will be neat to see jupiter with no moons.