Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand Events of the Galilean Satellites Table of Events visible from New Zealand for April 2001. Eclipses, occultations, transits and shadow transit of the first three satellites occur at regular intervals. A table of events visible during the month visible from NZ is included. Jupiter will be setting during the evening in April, as a result only a few events are visible from New Zealand. Many of these will occur either while the sky is still fairly bright after sunset or when Jupiter is getting low, making them difficult to observe.
Eclipses occur when a satellite moves through the shadow of Jupiter.
As it moves into the shadow the satellite will gradually fade from view and disappear. When it comes out of the shadow a faint spot of light will appear and gradually brighten. Occultations occur when a satellite moves behind Jupiter as seen from the Earth. Hence during an occultation the satellite is hidden by the planet. Transits occur when a satellite moves across the face of Jupiter as seen from the Earth.