Lunar occultation of Jupiter on November 3

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The celestial event can be observed with unaided eyes, or with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. | Photo Credit: Image for representational purpose

In a rare celestial event in the early hours of November 3, the moon will pass in front of Jupiter, a phenomenon that can be observed in Bengaluru and other parts of south India.

According to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), observers elsewhere will see the moon pass extremely close to Jupiter in the sky.

The celestial event can be observed with unaided eyes, or with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.

“During the moon’s monthly orbit around the earth, it can sometimes appear very close to a planet as seen in the sky. On rare occasions, it can even pass in front of a planet, hiding or occulting it for a while,” the IIA said.

It added that, from southern India, the moon will pass in front of Jupiter at 2.30 a.m. on November 3. Jupiter will remain hidden for a few minutes, depending on the location, after which it will reappear on the other side of the moon.

On the night of November 3, the moon will rise at around 1 a.m., and Jupiter can be seen just below it and very close to it. One can see the two objects getting closer and closer together until the planet disappears behind the lower, bright side of the moon. It will later reappear from the upper, dark side of the moon. Their distance will keep increasing thereafter.

The IIA said the reappearance would be easier to observe, as it would occur on the moon’s dark side and at a higher altitude above the horizon. In Bengaluru, the disappearance will last 33 minutes, beginning at 2.30 a.m., with the reappearance occurring at 3.03 a.m.

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