The Sky Today on Tuesday, November 4: Two shadows and a moon cross Jupiter

For a short time, the shadows of two Galilean moons appear together on Jupiter, framing the moon Io as it transits.
By | Published: November 4, 2025

For a brief time on Nov. 4/5, you can spot two shadows and a moon crossing Jupiter. Note the time and date, and make sure to convert for your local time zone. Ganymede lies farther west, outside this field of view. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A celestial conjunction event featuring Venus and Spica is anticipated for November 3.
  • Jupiter is expected to display a multi-phase transit phenomenon involving Io and its shadow, along with Europa's shadow, across its disk.
  • Io's shadow is projected to ingress Jupiter's eastern limb at approximately 10:20 P.M. EST, with Europa's shadow appearing at 12:12 a.m. EST on the 5th (in EST only).
  • A 20-minute window will allow for the simultaneous observation of both Io's and Europa's shadows on Jupiter's disk while Io is transiting, with Io's full transit concluding around 1:45 A.M. EST and Europa's subsequent transit commencing after 2:40 A.M. EST.
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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. 

November 3: Venus and Spica, side by side

Tonight Jupiter sports a three-for-one as Io transits with its shadow in tow and Europa’s shadow sneaks onto the disk in preparation for its own moon to transit.

Jupiter rises around 9:30 P.M. local time in Gemini the Twins. East Coast observers will be able to see the ingress of Io’s shadow, which appears on the eastern limb around 10:20 P.M. EST. By the time Jupiter is rising in the Mountain time zone, the shadow is roughly halfway across the disk, with Io itself just crossing onto the disk from the east. Europa is farther east, while Callisto (closest) and Ganymede (farther) lie to the planet’s west. 

Europa’s shadow appears on the disk at 12:12 a.m. EST on the 5th (in EST only). By this time, Io’s shadow is approaching the western limb and Io is about one-third of the way across the disk. There’s now a 20-minute window when both shadows are visible together with transiting Io. Io’s shadow reaches the western limb and disappears at 12:32 a.m. EST. Make sure to convert these times to your local time so you don’t miss the brief show! (Also, if you’re reading this in advance, remember the change to standard time on the 2nd.)

Once Io’s shadow disappears, Io still has half the disk to traverse. It takes a little more than an hour, with Io finally reaching the western limb around 1:45 A.M. EST. And it’s nearly one more hour before Europa begins to transit, with that event starting just after 2:40 A.M. EST. 

Sunrise: 6:33 A.M.
Sunset: 4:54 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:07 P.M.
Moonset: 5:25 A.M.
Moon Phase: Full
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 10 P.M. local time from the same location.

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