Jupiter Vanishes Behind the Moon in Rare Once-in-a-Decade Conjunction

Set your alarm for early Tuesday morning, because Jupiter will disappear behind the moon in a once-in-a-decade alignment. The event, known as a lunar occultation, happens when the moon passes directly in front of a planet, blocking it from view. For Jupiter, this happens rarely — the next visible occultation from North America won’t occur until Nov. 27, 2037.

The occultation will be visible before dawn across much of eastern North America, including the eastern and central U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. Parts of Africa will see the event during daylight. The moon will be a waning crescent, just 20% illuminated, and Jupiter will shine brightly alongside it.

The Path of the Occultation

Jupiter will disappear behind the moon for roughly an hour, then reappear. No telescope is required to watch the giant planet vanish and reappear — you can see the whole thing with your naked eyes. But a pair of binoculars or a small telescope will make the event much more dramatic.

Through a telescope, Jupiter will look like a tiny disc rather than a point of light. It will take about a minute to disappear completely behind the moon. The pair will rise together in the east early Tuesday morning and gradually appear to move closer as the moon travels eastward against the background stars.

City-Specific Times to Watch

The occultation begins at different times depending on where you live. The International Occultation Timing Association has published precise timings for 10 major cities. Here is the full list:

• Chicago: 3:22-4:17 a.m. CDT
• Atlanta: 4:15-5:17 a.m. EDT
• Detroit: 4:16-5:20 a.m. EDT
• Miami: 4:20-5:09 a.m. EDT
• Washington, D.C.: 4:20-5:24 a.m. EDT
• Philadelphia: 4:22-5:26 a.m. EDT
• New York: 4:23-5:27 a.m. EDT
• Toronto: 4:25-5:22 a.m. EDT
• Boston: 4:26-5:30 a.m. EDT
• Montreal: 4:30-5:26 a.m. EDT

Outside the occultation path, Jupiter won’t vanish at all. Instead, it will appear to be skimmed by the crescent moon — still a potentially spectacular sight that could produce some amazing photos. From across much of the world, the crescent moon and Jupiter will appear exceptionally close together.

What You Need to Know

The occultation is a simple thing to observe. Find an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, and look up when the moon rises. Jupiter will be easy to spot — it will shine brightly alongside the thin crescent.

If you want to photograph the event, an easy method is to use a smart telescope to image the moon. The moon’s thin crescent will provide a striking contrast with Jupiter’s bright dot. Set up early if you are new to astrophotography, since the timing is short.

The Rarity of This Event

Lunar occultations of Jupiter are rare, occurring only once every 11 years. That makes this morning’s event a special opportunity for anyone willing to wake up before dawn.

A Chance to See Something Rare

Watching Jupiter disappear behind the moon is a chance to see something unusual. The occultation is a simple event, but it carries a sense of scale — a planet swallowed by a moon, visible to the naked eye.

The timing is early. The occultation begins before dawn, so you need to set your alarm and find an open view. Just wake up early, look up, and watch the moon cover the largest planet in the solar system.

Key Facts Box

• Event: Lunar occultation of Jupiter
• Visible from: Eastern and central U.S., eastern Canada, Caribbean, parts of Africa
• Next visible from North America: Nov. 27, 2037
• Moon illumination: 20%
• Duration of disappearance: Roughly an hour
• Times published by: International Occultation Timing Association

The occultation is a reminder that the sky changes constantly, even when the change is too slow to notice from day to day. Jupiter disappears and reappears, and the moon moves past it, and both events are brief and beautiful.

This morning, the sky will offer a free show that requires nothing more than a clear view and a willingness to wake up. It won’t happen again for a long time.

Source material: “Jupiter will disappear behind the moon in a once-in-a-decade alignment tomorrow,” Live Science.

astronomy · jupiter · moon · occultation · Skywatching