A Triple Eclipse on Jupiter
Credit & Copyright: E. Karkoschka
(UA) &
S. Murrell
(NMSU),
NMSU 0.6-m Telescope
Explanation:
Part of Jupiter is missing.
Actually, three parts appear to be missing.
In reality though, the three dark spots seen in the
above photograph are only shadows. The
unusual alignment of three of
Jupiter's moons between the
Jovian giant and the
Sun was imaged last November
10th.
The shadows of
Io,
Callisto, and
Ganymede move across
Jupiter as these moons progress in their orbits.
It was by noting the times of eclipse
of Jupiter's moons in 1675 that
Ole Roemer became the
first person to measure the
speed of light.
When a shadow from
Earth's Moon
crosses the Earth's surface, the people inside the shadow see an
eclipse of the Sun.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
