Lunar occultation of Jupiter is a remarkable celestial event where the Moon passes directly in front of Jupiter, temporarily obscuring the gas giant from our view.

It happens due to the relative positions and motions of the Earth, the Moon, and Jupiter in their respective orbits. As the Moon orbits the Earth, it occasionally passes in front of other celestial bodies, causing an occultation. The Moon’s orbit is inclined at about 5 degrees to the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun through the sky. Jupiter, as well as other planets, are usually found close to the ecliptic. Thus, when the Moon’s orbit intersects the ecliptic at the same time, it is aligned with Jupiter, a lunar occultation of Jupiter occurs.

The upcoming lunar occultation of Jupiter will take place on 17 May. It will be visible from parts of North and Central America, the Caribbean, Greenland, Iceland, the northern British Isles, Scandinavia, and northwest Russia.

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