Between 02:47 and 03:01 UTC, around 40 observation stations recorded the passage of Jupiter’s largest satellite in front of the star, enabling Ganymede’s position to be measured with unprecedented accuracy. This data, collected across the entire continent, will help refine the ephemerides of Jupiter’s moons, an essential parameter for the preparation of the JUICE mission (ESA), which will reach Jupiter in 2031.
The recordings show a decrease in flow that was clearly detected by the high-speed cameras of at least twenty observers, confirming the good synchronization and quality of the observations. Data analysis is currently underway, but one thing is certain : thanks to the density of the observer network, we will have access to very accurate results on the ephemeris, size, and perhaps details on the topography of Ganymede.
The image below shows the map of European observers, and the attached video shows Ganymede gradually occulting the star, a celestial spectacle that is as rare as it is valuable to science.
Map of European observers. Green dots : positive signal / Red dots : negative signal / Blue dots : observation planned but not completed / Purple dots : technical problem with observation / White dots : overcast sky
Crédits LTE
Many thanks to all those who participated in this observation campaign coordinated by the Laboratoire Temps Espace (Paris Observatory) and the Société Astronomique de France.
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See the initial results on the Gemini website.
