The 61% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will occult magnitude +3.0 Zeta Tauri for observers in northern and eastern North America during the night of 2012 MAR 01-02. There will be no northern graze path since that would be in space above the arctic. The southern graze path will cross northern Illinois west and south of Chicago. For Chicagolanders there will be a full but brief occultation during the latter portion of the hour following midnight.

Observers on the graze path under clear skies will be able to witness the star winking on and off as lunar hills and valleys pass by. Weather permitting, those north and east of that path will see a full occultation.

Immersion will occur on the lunar dark limb, while emersion will come from the bright limb. The star’s apparent equatorial coordinates at the time of the event will be RA 05:38.4 and Dec N 21°09’.

I’ve created a graze map for North America, a preview graphic with data for observers at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, a view of the Earth and Moon from the star, and Besselian elements in the format of Jean Meeus. They can be seen by clicking www.curtrenz.com/moon

Photos and descriptions of the event would be welcome additions to this thread. If you would like occultation or graze data specifically for your location, then please reply to this post with a longitude, latitude, time zone and altitude above sea level.