Eclipse safety tips video

The start of July finds magnitude -2.3 Jupiter almost two months past opposition and highest in the southern sky around 30 minutes before sunset for observers in the British Isles. The solar system’s largest planet may be past its best, but there still plenty of Jovian events visible from the UK.

The orbits of Jupiter’s large Galilean moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are presently almost edge-on to our line of sight, causing the moons to regularly eclipse and occult each other. Multiple shadow transits are also on view!

Jupiter has passed opposition, but the solar system’s largest planet is still putting on a magnificent show in the southern sky at dusk. Backyard telescopes readily reveal its Great Red Spot storm feature and four main moons constantly playing tag. Here’s our full guide to Jovian events visible from the UK in June.