Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos!
Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is
featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2014 November 26
Io and Callisto Mutual Event
Image Credit &
Copyright:
Marco Guidi
Explanation:
A 24 minute sequence from top to bottom,
this intriguing series of telescopic frames
tracks the occultation of Io by Callisto, two of Jupiter's
Galilean moons,
from San Pietro Polesine, Italy, planet Earth.
A challenging observational project using a small telescope,
the two contrasting
Jovian worlds
are both slightly
larger than Earth's Moon.
In fact, bright, volcanic
Io and dark, cratered
Callisto are
about 3,640 and 4,820 kilometers in diameter respectively.
With Earth itself now crossing near the orbital plane
of Jupiter's moons, astronomers are enjoying a season of
Galilean moon mutual
events ranging from eclipses to occultations.
The series of orbital plane crossings produce a
mutual event season every 5 to 6 years.
Tomorrow's picture: ocean world
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Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
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MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell (
UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman
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