Post by Centaur on Feb 16, 2013 17:52:18 GMT -6
For my website I’ve created a separate webpage for lunar occultations. This is a fine year for occultations for southern hemisphere observers, while the drought continues for Chicagolanders. The next one of any significance for us will be the occultation of magnitude +2.6 Beta Scorpii during the evening of May 24. However the star will be occulted by the brightest Full Moon of the year. Shortly after the occultation the Moon will enter a brief and slight penumbral eclipse.
Folks often ask why there are not more occultations of planets and brighter stars. The short answer is that there is an awful lot of black out there, while the Moon is not really as large as people tend to imagine. Also, just as with solar eclipses (the total ones are actually occultations), an observer has to be in the right zone on Earth. And even if you're in the zone, half of your stellar occultations and the majority of your planetary occultations occur during your daytime.
We Chicagolanders will be in the zone for occultations of the asteroids 134340 Pluto and 5 Astraea during the early mornings of April 30 and May 1, but those are dim objects, especially Pluto.
During the coming week there will be occultations of Jupiter and the brightest asteroid 4 Vesta, but for Australia and Africa respectively. Book your trips now!
I’ll regularly update my occultations webpage. It can be seen at CurtRenz.com/asteroids.html
Folks often ask why there are not more occultations of planets and brighter stars. The short answer is that there is an awful lot of black out there, while the Moon is not really as large as people tend to imagine. Also, just as with solar eclipses (the total ones are actually occultations), an observer has to be in the right zone on Earth. And even if you're in the zone, half of your stellar occultations and the majority of your planetary occultations occur during your daytime.
We Chicagolanders will be in the zone for occultations of the asteroids 134340 Pluto and 5 Astraea during the early mornings of April 30 and May 1, but those are dim objects, especially Pluto.
During the coming week there will be occultations of Jupiter and the brightest asteroid 4 Vesta, but for Australia and Africa respectively. Book your trips now!
I’ll regularly update my occultations webpage. It can be seen at CurtRenz.com/asteroids.html