Before dawn on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Moon will pass in front of Jupiter for observers in parts of North America. Whether you see Jupiter disappear, reappear, or pass close by depends on your exact location, so check local timings and make sure you have a clear view toward the eastern horizon.
What happens during the occultation?
A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon passes between an observer and a more distant object. On October 6, Jupiter will appear to slip behind the waning crescent Moon and later emerge from the other side. The Moon will be about 20% illuminated, roughly four and a quarter days before new Moon, according to Astronomy.
Jupiter is an apparent disk about 34 arcseconds across, rather than a point of light. Its disappearance and return therefore unfold over time—about a minute for each transition in most cases. How long Jupiter remains hidden varies with location and can exceed an hour in the best-placed areas. Astronomy notes that disappearance occurs at the Moon’s bright, sunlit edge, while reappearance is at its darker, Earth-lit edge; the latter may be easier to spot.
Where can you see it?
The full event is visible in darkness across much of the eastern and central United States and adjacent southern Canada. The visibility guide includes Winnipeg, Chicago, Montreal, Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Miami in the principal region; this does not mean every nearby location will have the same view. Astronomy provides a visibility map and location details.
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Further west, Jupiter may already be behind the Moon when the pair rises, leaving only the reappearance visible. Farther west still, the two may appear close together without an occultation. Near the event’s northern and southern limits, some observers may see a grazing occultation: the Moon’s uneven edge covers only part of Jupiter. The guide identifies narrow limit zones and local examples. Astronomy; Astronomy’s event guide.
How to find the time for your location
There is no single time for the whole visibility region. For example, the NASA Night Sky Network event listing for Virginia Beach gives a viewing window of 4:14–5:27 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 6, 2026. It predicts Jupiter beginning to emerge at 5:24 a.m. and fully emerging at 5:26 a.m.; at the listed event time, the Moon is about 17 degrees above the horizon at azimuth 084 degrees. Those figures apply to Virginia Beach, not to North America as a whole. NASA Night Sky Network / Back Bay Amateur Astronomers.
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Look up circumstances for your own city using the International Occultation Timing Association local predictions referenced by the event guide. A prediction for a nearby metropolitan area may differ from one for your precise location, so use the closest available location and allow for your actual horizon.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What equipment and conditions do you need?
Binoculars or a telescope can make the event easier to follow, especially when Jupiter disappears against the Moon’s bright sunlit edge. The gradual return at the darker edge may be visible without optical aid, though optics can reveal more detail. The event guide does not say that binoculars or a telescope are essential. Astronomy.
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- Check the predicted local times before October 6.
- Choose a spot with an unobstructed view to the east; trees, buildings, and haze matter when the pair is low.
- Check the Moon’s predicted altitude for your location and account for local weather.
For one concrete example of the low-altitude issue, the Virginia Beach listing puts the Moon at about 17 degrees elevation and azimuth 084 degrees at its cited event time. That is a location-specific prediction, not a general altitude for the event. NASA Night Sky Network / Back Bay Amateur Astronomers.
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