PHOTOS: Jupiter’s Tues Disappearing Act Seen Over Twin Falls ID

It's been a wild few days of atmospheric enchantment as southern Idaho has had clear conditions to view the two largest planets in the solar system this week. One required viewing tools, and the other was clear as day with the naked eye Tuesday morning over Twin Falls.

What a week for Gem State stargazing! Anyone with a telescope may have had the luck of spotting Saturn in opposition Saturday night into Sunday. Saturn was at its closest orbital spot to Earth in a while at roughly 780 million miles.

We attended the viewing party Sunday at 1:15 A.M. at the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho and it was worth being a bit tired for most of the day.

Tuesday Morning Commuters In Southern Idaho Got A Glimpse Of Jupiter's Lunar Occultation

Image of Saturn from CSI Observatory, Sunday, Oct 4  1:30 A.M. Credit: Jasper Jannetta

As if getting eyeballs on Saturn over the weekend wasn't cool enough, Tuesday morning most of us woke to Jupiter's occultation. Jupiter could be seen with the naked eyes as a small, bright dot within close proximity to the crescent moon that made for an amazing visual for early morning Magic Valley commuters.

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Oct 6, 2026 Jupiter's Lunar Occultation over Twin Falls ID   Credit: Greg Jannetta

Oct 6, 2026 Lunar Occultation of Jupiter and moon   Credit: Greg Jannetta

I managed to snap some pics of the event on my way into work just after 4 A.M. Tuesday, October 6. Jupiter will not align in this manner again until the year 2037, according to space.com.