Heads up - nicely timed Aldebaran occultation

[FenlandPaul]

Hi folks

A quick reminder that there's a nicely timed occultation of Aldebaran tonight for UK observers, with the eye of the bull disappearing behind the dark limb of the waxing gibbous moon at about 18:10GMT, depending on where you're located. Very civilised time.

I'm hoping to get out and see it - it'll be my first ever occultation so looking forward to it, and currently we have clear skies!

Enjoy

Paul

[Steve Ward]

Thanks for the reminder Paul , for some reason I had a note on it for the 29th ... 

[Stu]

Thanks Paul, will try to catch that one. I've not seen an occultation of such a bright star, should be great!!

[Piero]

Thanks Paul! Unfortunately it's cloudy over here! 

Hope the sky is clear in the UK!

[callisto]

Clear here so far, fingers crossed 

[FenlandPaul]

Thanks Paul! Unfortunately it's cloudy over here! 

Hope the sky is clear in the UK!

So far so good, Piero.  A bit hazy, but Aldebaran visible about 3/4 of a degree to the upper left on the Moon at the moment.

Paul

[Peter Drew]

All set up and ready to go here. Don't forget, you need a telescope each, it happens so fast you can't share!    

[FenlandPaul]

All set up and ready to go here. Don't forget, you need a telescope each, it happens so fast you can't share!    

AR127L for me. 20x80 bins for my father-in-law. Very milky sky here now. Excited!

[callisto]

He giveth and taketh away.........clouded out now 

[FenlandPaul]

Wow - just amazing how it suddenly "switched off" instantaneously.  Both of us noted it at exactly the same time.  Time from here was 18:11:29.1, on the assumption that Big Ben and Radio 4 weren't conspiring against me this evening.

That was my first; it won't be my last.

I won't be staying around for reappearance as the in-laws are over and I'm on barbecue-the-steaks duty, a noble task that can only be completed if accompanied by wine and one which, therefore, is prudently completed after the scope has been put away.

Would be interested in any other timings and observations.

Paul

[Stu]

Nice one Paul. Unfortunately traffic chaos conspired against me so I missed it [emoji20]

[Steve Ward]

Just rattled off 300 frames through the ED80 , just the small matter of processing them all now ... 

[Scott]

The astro gods were smiling on me. occultation beat the cloud by about 30 secs .

[Peter Drew]

Yes, we just witnessed it seconds before the clouds covered it!. 

[Mrbloke]

Very good to watch. Thanks Paul for the heads up. High cloud haze and the occasional occultation of the moon with low clouds, but the moment of truth was visible. Definitely a 'blink and you'll miss it' event.

[Norfolk star gazer]

Wow - just amazing how it suddenly "switched off" instantaneously.  Both of us noted it at exactly the same time.  Time from here was 18:11:29.1, on the assumption that Big Ben and Radio 4 weren't conspiring against me this evening.

That was my first; it won't be my last.

I won't be staying around for reappearance as the in-laws are over and I'm on barbecue-the-steaks duty, a noble task that can only be completed if accompanied by wine and one which, therefore, is prudently completed after the scope has been put away.

Would be interested in any other timings and observations.

Paul

i don't know what I was expecting, but I watched it with clearish skies for 30 minutes and I agree that it was like it just switched off.

Not quite the excitement of an eclipse, but at least I've seen an occultation .

[Peter Drew]

What time is the egress?, can't seem to find much data. 

[FenlandPaul]

What time is the egress?, can't seem to find much data. 

If you watch from around 19:10 you should catch it Peter.  Greenwich at 19:11 and  Edinburgh estimated at 19:15.

Paul

[Ibbo!]

for me over in Notts 19hr 15m

[bish]

If only I checked SGL more often..

[philj]

Missed it due to poor timing but caught them close at 19.45. Oh well next time eh :-)

[Astro Imp]

Thanks for the heads up Paul, for once an astro event wasn't clouded out in murky Lincoln. What struck me was as Aldabaran approached the moon the star seemed to notably dim. Makes you realise just why observing uneven close doubles can be so tricky.

Hoped you all have a great festive season.

[FenlandPaul]

If only I checked SGL more often..

There's another opportunity (though lower elevation) on 20 January just after 03:20 - set your alarm!!

Paul

[rockettsue]

Oh no! I missed it! Just noticed there would be one on my stellerium :(

[Peter Drew]

Thanks Paul, unfortunately cloud scuppered that chance.