01/23/2015 – Jupiter will experience three simultaneous total solar eclipses tonight!

Total solar eclipses on Jupiter are nearly a daily occurrence on Jupiter.  However what we’ll see is the shadows of the moons crossing the face of the planet.  Shadows of the Jovian moons on the fave of Jupiter are difficult to see with small telescopes.  The look like tiny inky black dots.

Another way to watch the event is via Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.  The link is here.  Their event starts at 11:30 p.m. EST because Jupiter rises later there.  The email I received from them says the next triple shadow event on Jupiter won’t occur until 2032,

Here’s the schedule:  Moons:  I = Io, II = Europa, IV = Callisto; SHA = Shadow,  Tra = Transit (a moon crossing disk of Jupiter)

Moon Event      UT Date    hh:mm  EST Date    Time
 IV: Sha start: 24 Jan 2015 3:11  23 Jan 2015  10:11 p.m.
  I: Sha start: 24 Jan 2015 4:36  23 Jan 2015  11:36 p.m.
  I: Tra start: 24 Jan 2015 4:56  23 Jan 2015  11:56 p.m. 
 IV: Tra start: 24 Jan 2015 6:20  24 Jan 2015   1:20 a.m.
 II: Sha start: 24 Jan 2015 6:28  24 Jan 2015   1:28 a.m.
 I:  Sha end  : 24 Jan 2015 6:53  24 Jan 2015   1:53 a.m.
 II: Tra start: 24 Jan 2015 7:08  24 Jan 2015   2:08 a.m.
 I:  Tra end  : 24 Jan 2015 7:13  24 Jan 2015   2:13 a.m.
 IV: Sha end  : 24 Jan 2015 8:02  24 Jan 2015   3:02 a.m.
 II: Sha end  : 24 Jan 2015 9:23  24 Jan 2015   4:23 a.m.

Note: All three shadows will be on Jupiter at the same time from 1:28 to 1:53 a.m. EST.
Times provided by the Jevent.exe DOS program downloaded from http://www.projectpluto.com/

Here’s an animation of what the event might look like at half hour intervals look like starting at 9:45 p.m.

Animation of Jupiter’s satellite shadows starting at 9:45 p.m. and ending at 4:45 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ceil Sky Charts) and GIMP.  The circle in the center of Jupiter is an artifact of the program.  Click for a larger view.