CCD observations of mutual events of Jovian satellites from VBO during 1997

Abstract

CCD observations of the mutual events of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter from the Vainu Bappu Observatory during 1997 are presented. The derived times of close approach of the geometric centers of the satellites (satellite & shadow center) for the mutual occultations (mutual eclipses) are compared with the predictions. The residuals in observed times can be directly used to derive the relative longitude corrections of the two satellites involved in the mutual event. In the present data set, the (O-C) in longitudes of the 3O2 and 3E2 events indicate a delay in longitude of Europa or Ganymede by ??190 km.