Predictions of the mutual events of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter occurring in 2009–2010

Institut de mécanique céleste et de calcul des éphémérides – Observatoire de Paris, UMR 8028 du CNRS, 77 avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France e-mail: arlot@imcce.fr

Received: 26 September 2007
Accepted: 15 October 2007

Abstract

Aims. Mutual occultations and eclipses of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter will occur in 2009–2010. This paper provides predictions of these events as well as useful information for their observations. Such events are uncommon, since they only occur every 6 years when the Earth and the Sun pass through the common orbital plane of the Galilean satellites. The present dynamical models of motion of the Galilean satellites include the effects of the internal structure of the satellites on their motion. Only accurate observations such as mutual events may fit the parameters depending on the internal structure.

Methods.For these predictions, we used the best theoretical models of the motion of the Galilean satellites since the prediction of events is very sensitive to the accuracy of the relative calculated positions of the satellites.

Results.Therefore, we encourage professional and amateur astronomers to join the networks of observers in order to get as many observations as possible. Data on the predictions of the events and interactive software for their visibility are available on the web server of the IMCCE (www.imcce.fr/phemu09).