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Eclipses of Amalthea and Thebe by the Galilean Satellites and by Jupiter
JOA 2026, Vol. 16, No. 3, Page 3 Author(s): J.-E. Arlot, T. Midavaine, M. Irzyk,Abstract: The PHEMU (mutual phenomena) campaign is one of the oldest periodic ProAm collaborations proposed to the worldwide amateur community. About every 6 years, occultations and eclipses between the Galilean satellites provide very easy events to catch with small telescopes. Same synchronised phenomena could be observed from the hemisphere of Earth with Jupiter above the horizon. It enabled the improvement of ephemerides of these satellites which were the targets of space probes. These ephemerides now meet high accuracies thanks to these space missions or exceptional stellar occultations. Small inner Jupiter satellites could be the target of amateurs to improve their respective ephemerides. It will allow us to place constraints on the radial density distribution inside Jupiter. These events are more difficult to catch. However, previous recordings and trials performed with new sensitive digital cameras demonstrate selected events are now in the range of amateur abilities. This paper is introducing the 2026 - 2027 campaign to the amateur community able to deal with telescope availability, longitudes and weather constraints. In the coming year, amateurs have dates with the best eclipses of Amalthea and Thebe close to when Jupiter is at quadratures. Paris Observatory LTE is waiting for your accurately time-stamped light curves!