Early risers across Westman will have a chance to witness a rare celestial event before dawn Tuesday as the Moon briefly passes in front of Jupiter in an astronomical phenomenon known as an occultation.
The event will be visible low in the eastern to east-northeastern sky during the pre-dawn hours. Jupiter will disappear behind the Moon before re-emerging a short time later, creating a striking sight for skywatchers.
Astronomer Joe Rao says observers may see what appears to be a “sparkling diamond” at the edge of the Moon as Jupiter emerges from behind the lunar disk.
For the best view in Brandon and surrounding communities, head to a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon and minimal light pollution. While the event should be visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope can provide a closer look at Jupiter and its moons. Skywatchers are encouraged to be outside before 4 a.m. and allow a few minutes for their eyes to adjust to the darkness.
According to astronomy experts, it’s one of the best Jupiter occultations visible from North America in decades and only the third such event visible from the continent since 1889.
