The Special Project : Observing mutual phenomena of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter

7 May 2009

In 2009, the equinox will occur on the planet Jupiter (a once every six year event), allowing observation from Earth of mutual occultations and eclipses between the Galilean satellites. We will take the opportunity of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 to encourage everyone to look at these satellites and to make astronomical observations.

The satellites are very easy to observe and the mutual phenomena are accessible to amateur astronomers, students, and anyone using even a small telescope.

These phenomena are not only spectacular and easy to see, they are also rich in scientific information, improving our knowledge of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. These include objects as large as the planets Mercury or Mars, Io and its volcanoes, Europa and its ice crust, Ganymede, and Callisto.

As well as observing for fun, we request scientific observations to be made according to some simple but rigorous rules, to be followed by observers who possess materials and the ability to record such events. The data will be gathered and used for scientific purposes.

Since the phenomena occur only from April to December 2009, we need a large worldwide network of observers to catch as many events as possible. We intend to include all the participating observers sending valuable data into a final publication in an international journal, as has been done in the past after previous campaigns of observations with amateur astronomers.

More information is available at: http://www.imcce.fr/hosted_sites/ama09/phemu09_en.html

 

Organisational Associates:
ESO AAS INSU CAS STRW NOVA STFC SCNAT SPA NRC MEC CNES DLR ESA JAXA NAOJ APL PS ESF ISRO ICRAN NLSI NOT U Cluster NASAEAS ASI NRAO CEA  KASI EAE SPA AUI CROSCI


The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is endorsed by the United Nations and the International Council of Science.