The Moon's dark-sky eclipse of Jupiter on December 7, 2004 was visible across the entire eastern two-thirds
of North America. Most folks in the western and central states last had the chance to see this on Oct. 19, 1968.
In some places, it hadn't been seen since 1889. The next good chance for the Moon to eclipse Jupiter will be in 2026.
Jupiter's moons: Callisto, Ganymede, and Europe were visually seen, but the pictures were under-exposured. The
crescent Moon was 26 percent illuminated and just 4-1/2 days after new. Jupiter was bright shining at magnitude 1.8,
brighter than any other object in the sky. Jupiter is six times farther from the Sun than our Moon. It is illuminated by only
1/36 as much sunlight.
Jupiter and the Moon were in the southeast predawn sky. Through the f/6.3 scope, it was a spectacular sight to see.
The Moon eclipsed Jupiter and three of it's moons against a dark sky. Jupiter 's path had it disappear behind the Moon's
bright limb around 2:58am and emerge from behind the Moon's dimly earthlit limb around 3:37am . I could see the Earthshine,
the faint grayish-blue glow of the dark part of the Moon which gave it an almost 3-D quality.
2:52am and
2:56am
2:57am and 2:58am, Jupiter almost behind
the Moon
3:37am and 3:43am, Jupiter
reappearanceA Minolta Maxxum 5000i camera was at prime focus using Fuji 400ASA film. All photos, were taken using manual shutter release. Temperature in the low 40s.
Photos were scanned at 300dpi with minor brightness and contrast adjustments. Scope was set to f/6.3. It was not aligned because of the short exposures.
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Images Copyright © 2010 Calvin Hill