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Old 06-05-2018, 12:02 PM
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OzEclipse (Joe Cali)
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Young Hilltops LGA, Australia
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Bob,

Jupiters orbit is inclined by a small amount 1-2 degrees to the Earth's orbital plane and Europa's orbit also inclined by a small amount to Jupiters plane. Unless Jupiter is passing through ascending or descending node right at opposition and Europa is doing the same, the shadow and planet are unlikely to be perfectly aligned. This is a very very low probability event.

Jupiters orbital inclination is very small so the shadow and planet should be very close and maybe overlapping but my guess is the shadow will be above or below Europa, not passing behind it.

Joe
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