. 24/7 Space News .
The Moon Eclipses Jupiter

Jupiter and its moons at the end of the eclipse. Credits: Frank Reddy.
by Dr. Tony Phillips for Science at NASA.
Huntsville AL (SPX) Nov 30, 2004
Picture this: You're an astronaut driving a moon buggy across the dusty plains of Mare Crisium. It's nighttime, but not dark. There's a big bright gibbous Earth hanging low behind your back, and it lights up the moonscape, softly, as far as the eye can see. You turn off the headlights and hit the accelerator.

That's when it happens: From behind a nearby mountain, up pops Jupiter, brighter than any star in the sky. It winks in and out of the jagged ridgeline. Staring at the sky, you run into a crater.

Don't you hate that? Next time, pick a spot with smaller potholes - like New York City.

On Tuesday morning, Dec. 7th, about an hour before sunrise, people in New York can see Jupiter rise over the Moon's mountains. At precisely 5:05 a.m. EST, Jupiter will pop up from behind the Moon, not far from the lunar "Sea of Crises" (Mare Crisium).

It's the tail end of an eclipse or "lunar occultation." The crescent Moon covers Jupiter at 3:56 a.m. EST and uncovers it at 5:05 a.m. EST. New York City isn't the only place.

The eclipse will be visible across the entire eastern two-thirds of North America. Exact times vary depending on location. Check the table below for selected cities or click here for a longer list.

When the time comes, go outside and face southeast. Jupiter and the Moon will be about one third of the way up the sky. They're bright enough to beam through city lights. The only danger is that a building might get in the way, so pick a spot with a clear view of the southeastern horizon.

Note that the end of the eclipse is better than the beginning. The eclipse begins on the sunlit edge of the Moon. The glare there is intense. The eclipse ends on the other side where the only source of illumination is gentle ghostly Earthshine. Jupiter is twice as bright as Sirius (the brightest of all stars) and when it rises above the Moon's dark edge ... wow!

You can see all this with your eyes - no telescope required. But if you have a small 'scope, try it. You can see Jupiter's fat cloudy disk emerging behind the jagged lunar terrain.

It takes a full minute. You can also see Jupiter's moons: Callisto and Ganymede appear 5 to 15 minutes before Jupiter does. Europa appears about 2 minutes afterward. (Io is hidden behind Jupiter at the time.)

And what if you don't live in the eclipse zone? Go outside anyway. Even a near miss is worth seeing. Jupiter and the Moon are going to be a fraction of a degree apart. When two objects in the sky get so close together, they're spellbinding.

You're on the Moon, going fast, kicking up dust and staring at Jupiter. Hard to imagine? It's easy on Dec. 7th. Just don't turn off your headlights.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Scientists Call For Global Cooperation In Space Programme
Udaipur, India (AFP) Nov 26, 2004
Scientists from leading space nations closed a conference on moon exploration here last Friday with a call for global cooperation to achieve a permanent human lunar base by 2024.



Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only














The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.