Abstract
PHOTOELECTRIC observations of the occultation of the fifth magnitude star β Scorpii C by the satellite Io (Jupiter I) on May 14, 1971, were made in Florida, Jamaica and the Virgin Islands. Some visual observations were also made. This was the first occasion on which accurate observations of such a rare event have been obtained, although several visual observations of the occultation of a star by Ganymede (Jupiter III) were made in 1911. The predictions1 were only issued a few weeks before the event, and the track of the occultation was then very uncertain owing primarily to the uncertainty in the declination of Jupiter. It has been estimated that Io will occult a star as bright as β Scorpii C only once per millenium on average.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Taylor, G. E., J. Brit. Astron. Assoc., 81, 303 (1971).
de Sitter, W., Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 91, 706 (1931).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TAYLOR, G., O'LEARY, B., VAN FLANDERN, T. et al. Occultation of Beta Scorpii C by Io on May 14, 1971. Nature 234, 405–406 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/234405a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/234405a0
This article is cited by
-
On limits to Jupiter's magnetospheric diffusion rates
Astrophysics and Space Science (1973)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
