There is no single universal “Jupiter occultation time.” The phrase can mean either the Moon passing in front of Jupiter or Jupiter passing in front of a distant star. For a usable prediction, identify which event you mean, then check a current ephemeris for your observing location and note the date, time zone or time scale, and contact you want to see.
What does “Jupiter occultation” mean?
An occultation happens when one object passes in front of another from an observer’s point of view. In this case, the foreground object may be the Moon or Jupiter:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Event | What passes in front | What you may be looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Lunar occultation of Jupiter | The Moon passes in front of Jupiter as seen from part of Earth. | Local times when Jupiter disappears behind the Moon and reappears. |
| Jupiter’s stellar occultation | Jupiter passes in front of a background star. | A predicted event involving a particular star and an observing path on Earth. |
These are different kinds of events, so a time for one cannot answer a question about the other. Lunar occultation times vary by location. Stellar occultation predictions depend on the star, Jupiter’s position, and the observing geometry.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How to find a lunar occultation time for your location
Use a current local event listing or an observer-specific ephemeris rather than relying on a time published for another city. JPL Horizons supports topocentric output—calculations from a specified observing location—as well as geocentric output. Its Horizons System Manual explains its output and time scales; JPL notes that observers remain responsible for deciding whether the target and circumstances suit their observing plan.
#1 Best Overall
- Exceptional Optical for Day & Night: Features a 300mm focal length, 70mm aperture and Fully Multi-Coated optical glass, maximizing light transmission for ultra-sharp images. Enjoy crisp daytime views of wildlife and mountains, or explore celestial wonders such as moon craters and lunar eclipses.
- 150X Magnification for Moon & Planet Viewing: Powerful 15x–150x magnification – Includes two telescope eyepieces (20mm for wide view & 6mm for detail) plus a 3X Barlow lens, allowing the refractor telescope to deliver 15X and 150X magnification. Perfect for observing Jupiter, Saturn’s rings, and bright stars in your backyard or campsite.
- Phone Adapter & Stable Tripod: Comes with a 5x24 finderscope to locate targets quickly, a sturdy telescope tripod, a universal phone adapter, and a wireless camera remote. Easily capture clear, stable photos and videos of the planets or scenery without shake to share with friends and family.
- Beginner-Friendly Telescope for Kids: Designed for kids, beginners, and adults with a quick setup (no tools required). Includes a star chart that helps users learn the night sky. Excellent hands-on tool to spark kids' interest in astronomy, foster practical skills, and create memorable family stargazing experiences.
- Astronomy Gift with Lifetime Maintenance: Packed in an attractive color gift box, this ultra-lightweight telescope is tailored for camping, road trips, and outdoor adventures away from city lights. Complete with all essential accessories and backed by our lifetime Maintenance for total peace of mind. This is the ideal gift for astronomy enthusiasts of adults and kids.
- Choose the event type. Confirm that the listing is for the Moon covering Jupiter, not Jupiter covering a star.
- Set the observing site. Use your location or coordinates; a nearby city can have different contact times or visibility.
- Read the time basis. Record the date and the stated zone or time scale, and convert only if needed. Do not assume a displayed time is local time unless the source says so.
- Check visibility. Confirm Jupiter is above your horizon during the event and that the sky is dark enough for your purpose.
- Refresh the prediction near the observing date. Ephemeris models and Earth-orientation predictions can change slightly; retain the run details if you need to reproduce an exact calculation.
Which contact time should you use?
A single “occultation time” may refer to only one moment in a sequence. JPL’s SPICE documentation defines occultation boundaries using apparent contact between the modeled limbs of the foreground and background bodies. For a useful observing window, look for the full sequence:
- First contact / ingress begins: the apparent limbs begin to overlap.
- Disappearance: Jupiter is covered by the Moon.
- Reappearance / egress begins: Jupiter starts to emerge.
- Event end: Jupiter is fully clear of the Moon.
Listings may use different labels, so check what each timestamp means rather than treating the first listed time as the entire event.
Rank #2
- Professional Astronomical Refractor Telescope: If you are interested in astronomy or like to explore the night sky, the MEEZAA astronomical telescope is for you. A telescope for adults astronomy beginners to explore nature and the universe
- 90mm Large Aperture: The astronomy telescope has an 800mm(f/8.88) focal length and 90mm aperture. The 90mm aperture captures more light pictures, fully multi-coated optical glass lenses with high transmission coating improve image brightness and clarity
- Optimum Magnification (32X-240X): Our telescope for adults high powered is equipped with two eyepieces(10 mm and 25 mm) and a 3X Barlow lens. The 3X Barlow lens triples the magnification of each eyepiece, allowing us to observe unprecedented lunar details
- Convenient Accessories: Includes an adjustable stainless steel tripod (28 to 46 inches) for flexible viewing. All accessories fit neatly into the carry bag. Use the phone adapter to capture photos and videos, sharing moments for backyard astronomy, camping nights, and outdoor star parties
- Quick Setup, Big Discoveries: With a detailed paper manual, 90% of users assemble in 10 minutes. MEEZAA telescopes are trusted by thousands for learning astronomy, exploring nature, and creating unforgettable moments under the stars
Can you use the October 6, 2026 time?
No. A NASA Night Sky Network listing for Virginia Beach, Virginia, gave a local Moon–Jupiter occultation window of 4:14–5:27 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. It listed first contact at 4:20 a.m., Jupiter beginning to emerge at 5:24 a.m., and full reappearance at 5:26 a.m. Those were location-specific times for an event that has already passed; they are not a general schedule or a future prediction. See the dated NASA Night Sky Network event listing for context.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteHow often does Jupiter occult a star?
Stellar occultations are a separate category from the Moon passing over Jupiter. A 2023 study by Richard G. French and Damya Souami predicted 1,844 Jupiter occultations of stars brighter than K≤10 during 2023–2050. For stars with K≤7, the paper estimates about one event per year, with bright events more frequent in 2031 and 2043. These are forecasts for the stated star-brightness limits and interval—not a promise that an event will be visible from a particular town.
Rank #3
- 【Excellent Optics】Astronomical telescope features 80mm aperture 600mm(f/6.7) focal length-The big aperture can capture more light; high transmission multi-fully coated optical lens can improve light transmittance, reduce the reflection of light. It will bring you more bright and clear images.
- 【Portable & Stable】Our refractor telescope has a backbag, an adjustable aluminum tripod and an upgraded phone adapter. All accessories can be packed into the bag, which is convenient for you to carry and storage for traveling. The tripod is stable and the height can adjust from 17.7" to 52", which is suitable for adults and kids. With the phone adapter, you can take amazing photos through your phone.
- 【Easy to Operate】 This telescope is easy to assemble even for astronomy beginners and kids. You can set up easily with the detail installation manual and video. No tools are required. It’s a great astronomy gift telescope for adults, astronomy enthusiasts, beginners and kids 8-12.
- 【Optimum Magnification】Our telescope for kids and adults is equipped with two replaceable excellent-quality eyepiecesa (20mm and 9mm) for 30X and 66X magnification. A moon filter transmits only 13 percent of the incoming light and improving contrast. Also with 5x24 finderscope, you can locate objects easily. A great option for astronomy lovers to explore the moon, Saturn and Jupiter.
- 【Satisfaction Service】We provide 3 years satisfaction service. If you have any questions about the product and service, please feel free to contact us to get 24-hour technical support from our expert team. Whether observing moon or viewing planets, our telescope can meet your all needs. It’s a great telescope for adults & 8-12 kids & astronomy beginners.
The study, “Earth-based Stellar Occultation Predictions for Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Titan, and Triton: 2023–2050”, uses Gaia DR3 star data and near-infrared K-band photometry from 2MASS. It identifies potential observing regions, and predicted event rates vary with the density of star fields along Jupiter’s apparent path. Consult the paper’s linked supplemental predictions for particular stellar events, and verify current circumstances before planning an observation.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- SMARTPHONE-POWERED SKY TOUR: No experience needed! Just dock your phone, launch the StarSense Explorer app, and follow the on-screen arrows to locate stars, planets, nebulae, and more.
- PATENTED STARSENSE TECHNOLOGY: Unlike other astronomy apps, StarSense Explorer uses sky recognition technology to turn your phone into a celestial navigation system, analyzing star patterns overhead to pinpoint your telescope’s position.
- TONIGHT’S BEST TARGETS, INSTANTLY: The app generates a curated list of the top objects to see based on your time and location. See planets, bright nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters from the city—and even more from dark skies.
- SIMPLE SETUP, SMOOTH TRACKING: Features a manual altazimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls. Follow the on-screen arrows to your target; when the bullseye turns green, you can view it clearly through the eyepiece.
- 130MM REFLECTOR WITH IMPRESSIVE VIEWS: The 5" Newtonian reflector with high-reflectivity coatings delivers sharp, vivid views of the Moon, planets like Jupiter and Saturn, and deep-sky favorites like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy.
What to include when sharing a predicted time
- Whether it is a lunar or stellar occultation.
- The event date and observing location.
- The time zone or time scale used by the source.
- The contact or phase represented by each time.
- For a stellar event, the star and the prediction’s stated brightness limit or model context.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
