A Special Planetary Eclipse Will Be Visible in the Sky This Week—Here’s How to Spot It
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As our world’s view into the infinite reaches of space, the night sky essentially offers a non-stop lineup of memorable astronomical sights that are worth checking out. Stargazers have been treated to special events over the past few weeks alone as meteor showers and other easily spotted points of interest passed overhead. But this week, a relatively rare crossing will take place, making a special planetary eclipse visible in the sky. Read on for more information on the event and to learn how you can spot it for yourself.
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It’s hard to top a dramatic lunar or solar eclipse when it comes to astronomical events, but that’s not the only type of crossing that makes for a remarkable sight. In the early morning hours of May 17, the moon will eclipse Jupiter in a unique display, Forbes reports.
Fortunately, the sight is set to be particularly dazzling, given that the moon will only be at a slim six percent waning crescent phase. This reduces light in the night sky and helps optimizes any kind of stargazing, per Forbes .
During the event, viewers will see our satellite neighbor dance closely alongside our solar system’s largest planet before moving to block it from view. And while binoculars or a small telescope can enhance the experience, the spectacle will still be easily visible to the naked eye.
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Similar to lunar and solar eclipses, the visibility of planetary eclipses is limited to some regions of the globe. But in this case, the spectacle will be on full display for stargazers in a wide range of places , including the eastern U.S. and Canada, parts of Mexico and Central America, much of the Caribbean, Greenland, Scandinavia, and the northern U.K., according to astronomy website In The Sky.
This week’s event is also similar in that this isn’t the kind of passing that happens very often. In fact, the next time the moon will eclipse Jupiter won’t be until late summer of 2026, per In The Sky. This makes it an essential sighting for anyone looking to cross it off their astronomical checklist.
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Getting a glimpse of the planetary eclipse will undoubtedly be memorable, but it will also require getting up well before your alarm clock goes off. Jupiter will become visible just above the horizon in the early morning hours just before sunrise . To spot it, look to the east and try to locate the thin moon crescent, according to Forbes .
Depending on your location, you may be able to see Jupiter reemerge on the other side of the moon before dawn. However, since this will be in close position to the rising sign, it’s absolutely essential that you don’t point any telescopes or binoculars at the sunrise.
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Even if local weather conditions make viewing the eclipse impossible in your area, amateur astronomers might still want to clock off some time for stargazing this week. That’s because the moon will continue to thin down before it reaches its new phase on the night of Friday, May 19, making the night sky completely dark and primed for taking in plenty of planets and constellations, Forbes reports.
If you’re looking to get the most out of these pristine conditions, try getting to an area away from cities with as little light pollution as possible, according to NASA. You’ll also need at least 30 minutes of darkness for your eyes to adjust to conditions, which includes avoiding looking at your phone’s bright screen. Be sure to dress comfortably and bring a blanket or chair that makes it easy to lie back and look up at the sky.
The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says
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Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a devoted amateur astronomer, there’s no denying that there’s something special about witnessing a rare celestial event like a solar eclipse. Besides the fact that they only occur a few times each decade, getting a good view can come down to where you live having the right weather conditions. If you’d love to witness a solar eclipse anytime soon, you may want to mark off your calendars. NASA says the next one will be the last you can see from the U.S. until 2044. Read on for more info on how to catch this unique event.
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If catching a major cosmic event has been an item on your bucket list, you might want to grab your calendar . On Apr. 8, 2024, North America will have front-row seats to a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017. But besides being a relatively rare event in and of itself, this will also be the last opportunity to view a full eclipse from within the contiguous United States until Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
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Even though many areas across the U.S. will be treated to at least a partial eclipse, only places that are in the total eclipse’s direct path will get to experience the moon entirely blocking out the sun . The first sight of totality on the continent will start on Mexico’s Pacific Coast before it becomes visible stateside around noon in Texas, according to NASA. From there, the path will continue north through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before leaving the U.S. in the late afternoon.
Viewers in Canada will be able to experience the eclipse as it begins its path through Southern Ontario and eventually makes its way through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will disappear from North America as it passes off the East Coast of Canada in the early evening.
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So long as weather conditions remain favorable, part of what makes the experience of a total solar eclipse so special is the truly unique conditions it can create for those in its path. During the initial partial eclipse phase—or for those watching in areas outside of the total eclipse’s path—viewers will first notice a crescent blocking out part of the sun as the moon slightly covers the star while wearing the appropriate safety glasses, according to NASA.
For a few fleeting moments before the sun is covered, spectators might also be able to catch sight of Baily’s Beads, which are glimmers of light that form bright spots as sunlight passes through crags, craters, and valleys on the moon. A sharp, bright spot on the edge of the moon’s shadow known as the “diamond ring” will then appear, named for its resemblance to a sparkling piece of jewelry.
The moment the sun is completely blocked out is known as “totality,” marking the only point of the experience you can watch directly without protective glasses. Spectators might be able to make out different parts of the sun’s atmosphere, including a pink ring created by the star’s chromosphere or rays of white light from the corona. But while the view above is spectacular, sights on the ground can be just as surreal as conditions can create “a 360-degree sunset,” planets and bright stars can become briefly visible, the air temperature can drop, and “often an eerie silence will settle around you,” NASA describes.
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If you’re already excited to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial event for the last time until 2044, it might not be a bad idea to start preparing for the experience. Arguably most importantly, NASA warns you’ll need the correct specially designed safe solar viewing glasses or handheld viewer to actually be able to see it . Otherwise, you’ll need to use an indirect viewing technique, such as a pinhole projector.
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” the space agency warns, clarifying that normal sunglasses won’t offer sufficient protection. “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
And besides ensuring you have the proper equipment, you might also want to consider arranging a place to stay if you have to travel to witness the event. Cities along the path of totality will likely see a large influx of tourists scooping up available lodging, with Ross saying organizers expect anywhere between 375,000 to 500,000 people to descend upon Rochester alone.
“We’ve been starting to spread the word really since 2019 by meeting and also kind of designating everyone as an eclipse ambassador, so everyone watching right now, get ready because all of your out-of-town relatives are coming here [and] they’re gonna want to stay in your house,” Ross told WROC.
