Table 3.8: Brightest Stars Occultation Dates (11 brightest stars lying less than 1.79degrees from the ecliptic)Table 3.8 list the occultation dates for selected brightest stars that can be occulted by a total lunar eclipse. During the period 2000-2500 AD, Regulus is occulted within a day of nine total and four partial lunar eclipses but only once during totality in 2445. Actually, Regulus was occulted by an eclipsed moon (all types) 15 times between 64-408 AD, 10 times between 864-1162 AD and 1710-1943 AD; with periodicities of 19 and 65 years.Star Mag. Long. & Lat. Date Remarks (during totality)h Gem var. 92.74 -0.89 degs Dec. 25.1 <1600 >2150 ADm Gem 3.2 94.60 -0.83 Dec. 27.0 1917 during partial phased Gem 3.5 107.82 -0.18 Jan. 8.7 1917, 1936, 1982, 2001, >2150 ADa Leo 1.3 149.13 +0.46 Feb. 18.4 See caption belowr Leo 3.8 155.69 +0.15 Feb. 24.9 <1600 >2150ADb Vir 3.8 176.45 +0.69 Mar. 17.6 <1600 >2150ADa Lib 2.9 224.39 +0.34 May 5.5 1985, 2004, 2050, 2069, 2134b Sco 2.9 242.49 +1.01 May 24.2 1826, 1845, 1891, 1975, >2150AD x Sgr 3.6 282.75 +1.67 Jul. 5.4 1936 & 1963 during partial phasep Sgr 3.0 285.55 +1.44 Jul. 8.3 <1600 >2150 ADl Aqr 3.8 340.88 -0.39 Sep. 4.0 1979 during partial phase
Date references approximate opposition date (which precesses one to two days per century). Supplemental Table 3.2S lists all bright star occultations within four hours of mid-point occultation and mid-totality.
Table 3.9: Bright Stars Occultations During Lunar Totality (2000-2500 A.D.)Occultation Mid-point Moon at Zenith TotalityYear Date UT Lat/Long UT Lat/LongMag. Star Description2004 May 4 21h -53/14E 21h -17/52E 1.28 Zubenelgenubi Srn S. Africa2050 May 6 21 -72/14E 22 -17/22E 1.06 Zubenelgenubi SE Indian Ocean/Antarctica2134 May 8 9 -35/145W10 -17/152W1.63 Zubenelgenubi SE Pacific Ocean2420 Jan. 1 11 79/105W 10 23/144W 1.54 Mu Gemini Arctic2445 Feb. 22 18 -15/94E 15 10/142E 1.66 Regulus S. Central Pacific Ocean, followed again in 65 years2485 Jan. 1 10 56/156W 9 23/142W 1.31 Mu Gemini N. Central Pacific/AlaskaTable 3.9 lists all occasions from 2000-2500 when stars brighter than 3rd magnitude are occulted by a total lunar eclipse. Each line gives the approximate Universal time of central occultation (minimum separation) and mid-totality. Description highlight regional visibility. Note that a close conjunction of star and partial eclipsed moon will still be visible over more than half the Earth during most events.
TABLE 3.1SThe following list of Bright Planetary-Lunar Occultations or close Conjunctions occur within 4 hours of mid-totality (1 - 4000 A.D.)DATE TIME(UT) PLANET MAG LAT LONG SEP' ECL LAT LONG REMARKS04/19/227 03:49 (0h26m) Jupiter -2.5 -73.4 179.3E 51 04:15 -11.1 64.4W 03/08/285 14:12 (0h12m) Jupiter -2.5 -68.9 77.3E 59 14:00 4.5 152.9E01/27/343 11:23 (2h53m) Jupiter -2.5 -67.3 161.7E 33 08:30 18.2 123.6W07/23/343 18:05 (2h20m) Saturn 0.0 67.2 68.3E 22 20:25 -20.2 54.4E12/16/354 17:48 (3h18m) Saturn -0.5 28.8 93.3E 0* 14:30 23.4 142.4E Meeus 15:52 1:2212/17/400 20:54 (1h44m) Jupiter -2.7 -4.6 49.4E 0* 19:10 23.4 72.7E Meeus 20:25 1:1511/04/412 21:47 (1h12m) Mars -1.9 -43.9 43.6E 0* 20:35 16.2 47.8E Meeus 21:51 1:`1510/27/459 18:40 (2h50m) Mars -2.0 35.7 61.4E 0* 14:50 13.6 133.7E12/29/502 13:03 (2h02m) Saturn -0.5 27.8 163.6E 0* 15:05 23.3 135.3E Meeus 16:02 0:5706/04/513 06:49 (3h33m) Jupiter -2.7 -20.2 106.1W 0* 10:16 -22.6 155.1W05/03/524 20:18 (1h42m) Jupiter -2.6 -70.5 86.8W 9* 18:30 -16.6 81.1E Meeus 19:28 0:5803/25/582 04:59 (0h05m) Jupiter -2.5 -73.8 166.2W 46 05:04 -2.6 74.8W08/29/611 04:10 (1h00m) Saturn 0.3 60.7 131.5W 83 05:10 -9.0 77.8W02/13/640 08:07 (1h37m) Jupiter -2.5 -69.1 166.9W 22 06:30 12.7 93.4W05/18/691 01:46 (2h56m) Saturn 0.0 -69.7 179.2E 32 22:50 -19.9 16.0E11/23/755 20:44 (1h54m) Jupiter -2.8 53.9 28.6E 0* 18:50 21.2 74.9E Meeus 19:31 0:4109/21/777 01:35 (3h50m) Jupiter -2.9 57.6 113.6W 40 21:45 0.7 31.8E08/21/788 18:44 (3h08m) Jupiter -2.9 68.4 22.7E 41 15:36 -10.7 126.2E07/21/799 17:51 (2h11m) Jupiter -2.9 52.9 62.9E 0* 15:40 -20.3 126.0E Meeus 16:20 0:4006/20/810 20:55 (1h00m) Jupiter -2.8 -21.4 45.1E 0* 19:55 -23.7 61.2E Meeus 20:32 0:3705/20/821 23:48 (3h23m) Jupiter -2.6 -40.6 0.5E 0* 20:25 -20.8 52.3E Meeus 21:02 0:3704/10/879 11:58 (0h48m) Jupiter -2.5 -71.8 65.3E 10* 11:10 -9.2 167.5W Meeus 11:39 0:2902/17/919 14:07 (3h54m) Saturn 0.2 -70.5 101.3E 63 18:01 10.6 93.7E02/28/937 04:49 (3h09m) Jupiter -2.5 -70.1 137.5W 16 01:40 6.4 21.8W01/19/995 19:16 (3h51m) Jupiter -2.6 -12.3 70.0E 0* 15:25 19.5 132.5E Meeus 15:51 0:2601/09/1042 00:32(3h38m) Jupiter -2.6 -19.7 19.7W 0* 04:10 21.2 59.8W12/09/1052 01:32(3h17m) Jupiter -2.7 51.3 32.5W 0* 22:15 23.7 25.5E Meeus 22:39 0:2410/29/1110 09:07(3h43m) Jupiter -2.9 63.8 98.2E 12* 12:50 15.7 163.5E09/28/1121 02:48(3h07m) Jupiter -2.9 70.0 141.7W 51 05:55 4.5 91.6W11/15/1407 11:22(1h18m) Jupiter -2.8 64.6 47.8E 13* 12:40 21.0 166.8E Meeus 12:51 0:1110/14/1418 22:43(0h43m) Jupiter -2.9 70.9 105.0W 14* 22:00 11.2 26.3E Meeus 22:11 0:1109/13/1429 00:00(0h20m) Jupiter -2.9 59.6 87.5W 60 00:20 -0.3 7.1W08/13/1440 04:00(2h50m) Jupiter -2.9 70.1 108.0W 3* 06:50 -12.4 101.8W07/26/1580 12:03(0h58m) Sat-Ura 0.2 31.7 158.8E 0* 11:05 -17.4 164.9W Meeus 11:09 0:0409/13/1848 09:06(2h44m) Saturn 0.6 72.1 151.7E 82 06:20 -3.7 96.0W06/17/2076 02:04(0h36m) Saturn -0.1 -67.2 164.4E 18 02:40 19.9 145.8W07/26/2344 12:06(0h19m) Saturn 0.1 16.8 165.9E 0* 12:25 -19.2 175.4E Meeus 12:42 0:1711/18/2412 01:03(1h08m) Saturn -0.4 64.8 149.6W 77 23:55 19.4 2.5W04/26/2488 08:30(0h40m) Mars -1.6 -63.0 116.4E 6* 09:10 -13.8 137.9W Meeus 9:42 0:3209/02/2612 10:12(0h37m) Saturn 0.5 69.2 143.4E 29 09:35# 8.1 143.5W06/07/2821 01:33(0h53m) Mars -2.1 62.8 3.1E 67 00:40 22.8 10.0W01/11/2829 07:18(3h48m) Saturn -0.4 34.1 105.3W 0* 03:30 21.8 50.9W Meeus 4:23 0:5905/11/2962 10:05(3h35m) Mars -1.6 -6.2 143.8W 0* 06:30 15.3 101.8W01/26/2977 07:39(1h06m) Saturn -0.3 16.9 114.8W 0* 08:45 18.7 128.7W Meeus 10:01 1:1607/14/3461 21:45(2h10m) Saturn 0.0 -65.3 179.9W 11* 23:55 -21.6 3.6E08/08/3581 11:21(3h11m) Saturn 0.3 -2.6 171.7W 0* 08:10 -15.7 120.3W06/06/3584 15:45(1h35m) Jupiter -2.5 -68.9 99.3E 0* 14:10 -22.4 147.9E06/25/3881 10:21(0h41m) Jupiter -2.6 -59.8 161.5W 0* 09:40 -23.2 143.4W* Signifies Occultation (during Totality)# 99% Partial EclipseNote: Italics events are included as close conjunctions during totality in Table 11.
Generally, the time between maximum totality and central occultation should be less than two hours for the planet to be in contact with the moon during totality. This table reflects all occultations and conjunctions (maximum distance <90 ' arc in R.A., measured from object centers) occurring under four hours from optimum alignment. Time denoted in parenthesis is the absolute time difference between occultation mid-point and mid-totality. Latitudes and Longitudes are points where the occulted star and eclipsed moon are at the zenith.
TABLE 3.2SThe following list of Bright Star-Lunar Occultations or close Conjunctions occur within 4 hours of mid-totality (2000 - 2500 A.D.)DATE TIME(UT) STAR MAG LAT LONG ECL LAT LONG05/04/2004 21:06 (0h36m) Zubenelgenubi 1.28 -52.8 14.0.E 20:30 -16.6 51.6E02/20/2008 23:50 (3h35m) Regulus 1.09 -27.1 17.7W 03:25 10.5 47.9W05/26/2040 08:12 (3h33m) Graffias 1.51 -69.4 108.2E 11:45 -21.6 177.0W05/06/2050 21:06 (1h24m) Zubenelgenubi 1.06 -71.5 13.6E 22:30 -17.3 21.6E05/08/2134 08:37 (1h28m) Zubenelgenubi 1.63 -35.0 144.7W 10:05 -17.3 152.2W05/10/2199 12:34 (3h46m) Zubenelgenubi 1.71 -42.5 160.9W 16:20 -17.8 114.3E07/31/2242 03:49 (2h01m) Pi Sgr 1.28 -69.3 116.1E 05:50 -21.6 85.9W01/01/2420 11:29 (1h49) Mu Gemini 1.54 79.6 104.7W 09:40 23.2 144.3W02/22/2445 17:32 (2h47m) Regulus 1.66 -14.5 93.8E 14:45 9.9 141.9E01/01/2485 10:08 (0h38m) Mu Gemini 1.31 55.7 155.9W 09:30 22.7 141.8WGenerally, the time between maximum totality and central occultation should be less than two hours for the star to be in contact with the moon during totality (note 2445 exception). This table reflects all occultations and conjunctions occurring under four hours from optimum alignment. Time denoted in parenthesis is the absolute time difference between occultation mid-point and mid-totality. Highlighted events reflect occultation during totality. Latitudes and Longitudes are points where the occulted star is at mid-path and eclipsed moon is at the zenith.
If Jupiter's largest moons were exactly in the Earth-Jupiter orbital plane and not inclined with respect to Jupiter, they would spend the following time either in transit or occultation with Jupiter:: I - 10.8%, II - 6.75%, III - 4.2%, and IV 2.5%. However, if one accounts for the real-world orbital dynamics , the following approximate yearly hourly variations are noted:
In the years 2000, 2006, 2012, 2018, and 2024 the moons are furthest from Earth-Jupiter equatorial plane with Callisto missing Jupiter entirely The approximate number of events (both transits and occultations) that would occur if exactly in this plane (i.e., 2003, 2009, and 2021) is obtained by dividing the particular satellite's total hours by approximately the time it takes to cross Jupiter's equator: I (2.3hrs), II (2.9hrs), III (3.6hrs), and IV (4.9hrs).
Maximum possible separation combination is 139.83Jr). This type of event is listed in Tables 13D below. The extreme elongation of (I-II-III-IV) is maximized numerically as follows: + - - + , - + + - , + - + -, or - + -+ where (-) is east and (+) is west of Jupiter (i.e., IV is at opposite elongation to II & III), where, I=5.88Jr, II=-9.3Jr, III-=-15.0Jr and IV=26.55Jr.
Table 3.10: Galilean Satellites-All Invisible Last to First to Satellite SituationYear Date Elong Duration Disappear Reappear I II III IV Min Sum2001 Nov. 8 117W 17min III 16:27 UT I 16:44UT T EO E T 10.5 Jr2009 Sep. 3 171E 109 III 04:44 I 06:33 O T T E 4.442021 Aug. 15 175W 2 I 15:45 IV 15:47 E T T T 4.782033 Jul. 28 152W 107 I 03:03 III 04:50 EO T T O 4.352045 Jul. 9 47W 2 I 14:38 III 14:40 E T T T 5.202057 Jul. 15 127W 64 IV 23:07 I 00:11 O T O T 4.602085 Feb. 7 136E 16 IV 14:18 I 14:34 O T O TG 6.542097 Feb. 13 135E 32 IV 23:10 II 23:42 OE T T T 4.20Table 3.10 lists most occurrences during the period 2000-2099, when all four Galilean Satellites will be simultaneously invisible due to transit, occultation and/or eclipse with Jupiter. Other events may occur (as with the 2001 example) when one of the satellites eclipsed far from the disk of Jupiter. Times are in Universal Time and indicate to the nearest five minutes when all moons are invisible. The two-two minute events in 2021 and 2045 are marginal at best. The event in 2085 will have Callisto graze (G) the polar rim. Transits (T), occultations (O), and eclipses (E) describes each satellite's event(s). Solar elongation in degrees (E=morning/W=evening). Minimum sum=ABS(I-II + I-III + I-IV + II-III + II-IV + III-IV) pair distances measured in Jupiter's equatorial radius. Some satellites will undergo eclipses in addition to transits or occultations during these rare encounters with Jupiter. These events can only occur when Earth-Jupiter are near each other's orbital planes.
Table 3.11: Galilean Satellites-Unusual Alignments Date UT Elong Min Sum 1/15/2000* 16h 88E 8.73Jr 4/03/2001 22 53E 4.86 6/22/2002 6 21E 5.82 1/02/2006 10 71W 7.69 9/09/2006 20 54E 8.12 8/02/2012 21 64W 8.31 7/21/2036 14 36E 7.31 12/27/2041 12 46W 6.69 7/27/2048* 20 47W 7.49 3/10/2049 9 90E 4.52 2/14/2064 7 38W 6.59 2/26/2073 3 112E 5.25 2/02/2088 1 118W 7.58Table 3.11 for the period 2000-2099, list the occasions when three Galilean Satellites will be within 1 Jovian radii (Jr) of Jupiter. However, Callisto is found just north or south of Jupiter's poles while the other three moon's are in transit, or occulted at the same time . Minimum Sum =ABS(I-II + I-III+I-IV+II-III+II-IV+III-IV) pair distances measured in Jr. * denotes mutual close encounters very near Jupiter or invisible due to eclipse.
Table 3.12: Galilean Satellites-Long Duration Pairing Date UT Sats Dur Min Elong 1/12/2003 3.6h II-III 7.4hrs .0036 155W 6/22/2003 8.0 I-III 3.6 .0038 48E 8/13/2009 6.8 II-III 4.6 .0583 179W 9/06/2009 10.0 I-III 3.2 .0735 156E 11/26/2014 3.2 II-IV 5.8 .0362 98W 12/06/2014 2.0 II-IV 6.2 .0515 109W 1/02/2015 17.4 I-II 4.6 .0162 139W 3/05/2015 10.4 III-IV 4.0 .0279 150E 3/05/2015 17.8 III-IV 4.4 .0242 150E 8/03/2021 11.4 I-II 3.6 .0568 179E 12/06/2026 21.6 II-III 4.0 .0418 104W 12/25/2026 20.1 I-II 4.0 .0327 125W 8/16/2033 9.0 I-II 3.2 .0757 147W 3/12/2045 18.6 I-III 3.4 .0525 38W 9/17/2050 11.0 I-III 3.0 .0265 29WTable 3.12 list possible mutual occultations or eclipses of one satellite by another during the period when the Earth and Jupiter crosses each other's ecliptic plane. The reason for any uncertainty in predicting these events is due to the slight satellite orbital inclinations with respect to Jupiter, the apparent small sizes of each satellite and gravitational uncertainty. However, on several occasions, pairs of satellites will be within approximately 0.1Jr for extended periods as noted above. The satellites may play tag with one another several times during these interval, making for interesting observing sessions. Minimum separation (Jr) may be more or less than shown if satellite inclination is considered. Universal Time reflects the start of each close pairing.
Table 3.13: Galilean Satellites-Extreme Elongations I-II-III-IV Sum (+56Jr) Solar IntervalDate UT Configure Dur @Max Elong Elong Next Event Same Event1996 Feb 17 23h - + - + 1.5h .6868 50W 8mo 158mo1996 Oct 25 8 + - - + 1.0 .6139 72E 114 1142006 Apr 25 6 + - - + 0.5 .6036 170E 36 442009 Apr 18 15 - + - + <0.5 .5996 62W 8 4172009 Dec 25 1 + - - + 2.0 .6472 54E 35 4172012 Nov 23* 16 - + + - 1.5 .7166 168W 66 1732018 May 1 14 + - + + 2.0 .6861 172E 36 1732021 Apr 24 22 - + + + 0.5 .5968 63W 43 4292024 Nov 29 23 - + - - <0.5 .6117 170W 29 1732027 Apr 19 15 - + + - 0.5 .6145 112E 65 5602032 Sep 24 11 + - + + 1.5. .7110 113E 71 1142038 Aug 18 13 + - - - <0.5 .6055 11W 8 4482039 Apr 25 22 - + - - 0.5 .6088 111W 35 1142042 Mar 25 12 + - + + 0.5 .5757 125W 22 5752044 Jan 24 8 - + - + <0.5 .6445 16W 8 1142044 Sep 30 18 + - - + 1.0 .5911 112E 49 512048 Oct 23 22 - + - - 1..5 .6837 117W 22 4172050 Aug 24 18 + - + - 2.0 .6849 12W 43 442054 Mar 31 19 + - - + 1.0 .6005 126W 22 1582056 Jan 30 16 - + + + 2.0 .7243 16W 22 1292057 Nov 30 11 + - - + 1.5 .6425 94E 129 ------2068 Aug 24 17 + - - + 0.5 .5976 158E 7 ------2069 Mar 31 9 - + + + 2.0 .6722 30W 157 152073 Dec 29 20 - + + - 1.0 6039 144W 15 1142075 Mar 26 3 - + + - 1.0 .5829 153E 8 ------2075 Oct 30 18 + - - - 1.0 .5811 31W 107 ------2084 Sep 23 2 - + + - >0.5 .5472 77W 8 ------2085 May 31 12 + - + - 1.5 .6252 39E 7 ------2086 Jan 5 3 - + - - >0.5 .5938 147W 49 ------2090 Feb 28 23 + - + + 0.5 .5395 65W ------ ------Table 3.13 list all visible occasions when all four Galilean Satellites will be simultaneously at greatest elongation from Jupiter as seen from Earth, for the period 1996-2090. Universal Time reflects the approximate mid-point of the event, satellite configuration (E/W of Jupiter (-/+)); duration (hours); total elongation + fraction (Jr); solar elongation, W=morning, E=evening object (degrees); and interval between events and same event configuration (months). I & II cannot be on the same side at the same time (i.e., + + + + or - - - -). The absolute elongation extremes as measured in Jr are approximately: I=5.88, II=9.30, III=15.00, and IV=26.55 for a maximum total of 56.73Jr. The duration of each event is determined by the time the absolute sum remains above the arbitrary value of 56.37Jr where: I > 5.80Jr, II > 9.22Jr, III > 14.92Jr, and IV >26.43Jr all occurring at the same time.
During the next 100 years, mutual occultations and eclipses of these moons with each other may occur during the period 6/2002-9/2003, 5/08-3/10, 5/14-8/15, 5/20-3/22, 5/26-8/27, 5/32-3/34, 9/37-8/39, 4/44-8/45, 5/50-8/51 etc. Jr represents the separation between each moon based on Jupiter's equatorial radius but does not take satellite inclination into account (in the long term, this factor is averaged out). Note that the faster orbiting inner moons (Io and Europa) will result in more (quasi)* conjunctions.. Solar elongation is measured in degrees where W indicates morning events and E indicates evening events. For all cases, y (# events in 100 years) =-17.95 + 1917 * x (separation); correlation coefficient r=0.9956. * denotes close approaches without necessarily having conjunction in right ascension (R.A.). Further reference to conjunctions imply possible quasi-conjunctions as well.
The rarity of conjunctions increases when all four moons are in conjunction. For example, I-II-III-IV are within 1.4Jr 6 times, 1.5Jr-10 times, and 1.6Jr-16 times of one another during the period 2000-2099).
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