Europa's Transit Across Jupiter Offers Astronomical Spectacle
On February 8, 2026, the icy moon Europa will transit across Jupiter, providing a captivating astronomical event. This transit, visible from Earth, will occur as Europa and its shadow cross the face of Jupiter. The event begins shortly before 10 P.M. EST, with Europa moving in front of Jupiter's disk at 9:54 P.M. EST. The shadow follows approximately an hour and a half later, appearing around 11:20 P.M. EST. By midnight, both Europa and its shadow will be visible, straddling Jupiter's central meridian. The transit concludes around 12:45 A.M. EST on February 9, with the shadow disappearing shortly before 1:15 A.M. EST. This event is part of a series of transits that have been occurring since Jupiter's opposition last month, with the time between the moon and its shadow crossing increasing as the date moves further from opposition. 
