The Occulation of Jupiter

As the visibility of an occultation, like that of a solar eclipse, depends upon the position of the observer, the chance of such an event being visible in any particular locality is rather scanty. On looking down the list of suuthern occultations of Jupiter for the current year, I saw there were three that came temptingly near us. Whilst in close proximity, and especially at re-appearance, I carefully studied the relative luminosity of the moon and planet, especially with reference to the question of the planet's being in any degree self-luminous. However, as an eye estimate, I was struck with the apparent smallness of the difference in the luminosity of the two bodies, as compared with their vast difference of distance from the sun. Still, as against the theory of the planet's being self-luminous by his own glowing heat (as has been suggested), stands the fact, that the luminosity of the satellites compare about equally with that of the planet. We can hardly imagine these comparatively small bodies to retain any sensible amount of their supposed original incandescence.
They may, however, receive a considerable amount of light from the planet itself. This question is one of great interest, and should be investigated, as it probably will be, on a more accurate and scientific basis.