The September 8 occultation will be visible from parts of North America, Greenland and eastern Russia, with daylight and location determining observing conditions.
Science··Morning
The Moon will pass in front of Jupiter
The waning crescent Moon will pass in front of Jupiter as seen from Earth on September 8. During this occultation, the planet will disappear behind the Moon's bright edge and reappear a short time later from its dark edge. Space.com and Forbes cover the same sky event in separate observing guides. Both reports say it will happen in daylight across much of North America rather than under a dark night sky, a detail that distinguishes the event from an ordinary close pairing.[1], [2]
Visibility depends on a narrow geography
The path plotted by the direct ephemeris crosses parts of Canada, Greenland, eastern Russia and the contiguous United States. Jupiter's disappearance and reappearance times vary with the observer's location. Space.com says much of the western United States lies outside the path, while suitable sites in the Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones can see the event in the afternoon. Forbes identifies the pre-dawn pairing of the crescent and Jupiter as the first opportunity to prepare for the later daytime occultation.[1], [2]
Daylight will make the observation difficult
Being inside the path does not by itself guarantee visibility. A bright daytime sky, the satellite's low altitude, weather and local viewing conditions may make the planet difficult to find; at some locations the event could remain unseen even while it is technically above the horizon. Neither guide promises an assured naked-eye view. Their suggested approach is to locate the crescent and planet before sunrise, track them safely and use a telescope during the daylight phase. The telescope must not be pointed directly toward the star, and local sky conditions still need to be assessed at the time.[1], [2]
