Jovial/Moon Eclipse Christmas 2012

I was shooting around on some of the modern astronomy software (solarsystemscope.com, stellarium, etc.)

I was curious of the alignments and such, and I did find a cool alignment on Christmas of this year.


At about 8:00 GMT, a Jovial/Moon eclipse should take place on Christmas, in the constellation of Taurus. The Moon will eclipse Jupiter, in case it wasn't clear. It should be visible in many parts of the world as it will last from 8:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT, yes, a 15 hour Jupiter eclipse on Christmas, fun!







I was uncertain if the Moon would totally eclipse Jupiter, but it appears that it will (The Moon is 5 degrees across in the sky, and you can clearly see that Jupiter and the Moon are within 1.5 degrees or so), despite the Moon being three days from Full phase.

Originally posted by ProperlyErrant
I was uncertain if the Moon would totally eclipse Jupiter...

Because the moon is quite small (relative to the earth), its shadow cast by Jupiter will also only be a moon sized shadow on earth.
Thus, the occultation will only be visible from a small region. (much like a solar eclipse)

This page has more details, including a map showing you'd best be in South America. Brazil would be good.

Originally posted by alfa1

Originally posted by ProperlyErrant
I was uncertain if the Moon would totally eclipse Jupiter...

Because the moon is quite small (relative to the earth), its shadow cast by Jupiter will also only be a moon sized shadow on earth.
Thus, the occultation will only be visible from a small region. (much like a solar eclipse)

This page has more details, including a map showing you'd best be in South America. Brazil would be good.

I think it will be visible at least for some duration by many parts of the world. Jupiter is much smaller in relation to the Moon, whereas the Sun is the same size (or close to the same size) as the Moon, in relation to our perspective from Earth.

Because of this, the Moon will eclipse Jupiter for what seems to be a maximum of 15 or so hours, and a minimum of 0-1 hour depending on where you are. That's an estimation, but I believe it may be accurate.

reply to post by ProperlyErrant


What do you think about the people that claim that there will be 3 whole days of darkness?

Just curious on what you think.

Nice thread S&S


SS

reply to post by Spike Spiegle


I think those people most interested in it are more dealing with excitement and panic-syndrome coupled with a strange and unwanted obsession towards those feelings/processes.

3 days of darkness, when considering literal, metaphorical, as well as the actual duration of "3 days", that could not only mean a million & one things, it could also easily, and has been fulfilled because of the vagueness of the "prediction".


If someone were to say: "In 10,000 years the Sun will undergo core contraction, due to core hydrogen fusion ending. During a short period of time, as the Sun's core contracts, the Sun will experience a very low light period, before the outer shells of hydrogen begin fusing, and subsequently the core reachs the thresholds for Helium Flash"

But that's the thing, close to none of these predictions are detailed like that, because they revolve around vagueness so that the original "propheteer" and his following can get some gratification out of satisfying a highly probable situation, due to the vagueness, but make it out to be like it's improbable.


"My God look at that! The sky is turning orange tonight! I told you that it would happen soon!"

Originally posted by ProperlyErrant
I was shooting around on some of the modern astronomy software (solarsystemscope.com, stellarium, etc.)

I was curious of the alignments and such, and I did find a cool alignment on Christmas of this year.


At about 8:00 GMT, a Jovial/Moon eclipse should take place on Christmas, in the constellation of Taurus. The Moon will eclipse Jupiter, in case it wasn't clear. It should be visible in many parts of the world as it will last from 8:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT, yes, a 15 hour Jupiter eclipse on Christmas, fun!

According to some sources, they suggest it will be two hour event, and will only be viewable from areas like South America and South Africa. In contrast, according to these programs, the Moon does appear to eclipse Jupiter from areas across the U.S. and Europe as well.

I was uncertain if the Moon would totally eclipse Jupiter, but it appears that it will (The Moon is 5 degrees across in the sky, and you can clearly see that Jupiter and the Moon are within 1.5 degrees or so), despite the Moon being three days from Full phase.

edit on 25-11-2012 by ProperlyErrant because: (no reason given)

edit on 25-11-2012 by ProperlyErrant because: (no reason given)