Centaur
10-January-2008, 02:54 AM
For North Americans the 76% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will occult stars of the Pleiades (M45) cluster during the night of 2008 JAN 17/18. Immersions will occur on the Moon’s dark limb and emersions on the bright limb. Some of the graze paths will pass through populated areas.
I’ve created a graze map that can be downloaded. Those who are north of a star’s southern graze path and south of its northern path can witness both the immersion and emersion of that star. In some cases no northern path is drawn because it is in outer space above the North Pole. Observers on a graze path will be able to see a star winking on and off as lunar hills and valleys pass by. To see the map, click: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Also on that web page is a graphic I made to illustrate the event at a time when the Moon is covering three Pleiades stars for Chicagoland observers. Photos and descriptions of the occultations would be welcome additions to this thread.
For folks in Alaska and northwestern Canada, the 91% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will occult Mars during the late afternoon of 2008 JAN 19. It may be possible to witness the daytime event without optical aid, but binoculars or a telescope would be helpful. A graze map is available on the same webpage with the other graphics.
I’ve created a graze map that can be downloaded. Those who are north of a star’s southern graze path and south of its northern path can witness both the immersion and emersion of that star. In some cases no northern path is drawn because it is in outer space above the North Pole. Observers on a graze path will be able to see a star winking on and off as lunar hills and valleys pass by. To see the map, click: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Also on that web page is a graphic I made to illustrate the event at a time when the Moon is covering three Pleiades stars for Chicagoland observers. Photos and descriptions of the occultations would be welcome additions to this thread.
For folks in Alaska and northwestern Canada, the 91% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will occult Mars during the late afternoon of 2008 JAN 19. It may be possible to witness the daytime event without optical aid, but binoculars or a telescope would be helpful. A graze map is available on the same webpage with the other graphics.