Daytime occultation of Venus by the Moon

[Gfamily]

I know the pinned post from @Stu suggests that this forum is for 'less predictable' events, but looking at other threads, I see that's a guideline rather than a rule (apologies). 

Just to flag up that there's a daytime occultation of Venus by the Moon on the morning of Thursday 9th November. In my location it starts at about 9.40am and Venus will re-emerge about an hour later. 

Totally predictable and totally off topic, but might be of interest if people are free. Helpfully, Venus will be easy to find just beforehand as the Moon will be right next to it   

 

[SwiMatt]

Sounds like a cool event to check out!

Just out of curiosity, does aperture make a difference in catching something like this in day light? I tried to point my Mak 127 to the Moon during the day, but it was very underwhelming. Would I be able to see Venus?

[Gfamily]

22 minutes ago, SwiMatt said:

Sounds like a cool event to check out!

Just out of curiosity, does aperture make a difference in catching something like this in day light? I tried to point my Mak 127 to the Moon during the day, but it was very underwhelming. Would I be able to see Venus?

Yes, Venus should be easily visible - and I suspect that the surface brightness may be even brighter than the Moon's occulting edge*

*The moon's surface is fairly dark - with an albedo of about 12% it's similar to used asphalt in reflectivity - whereas Venus' clouds have a much higher albedo, reflecting up to 70% of the Sun's light.  

[Knighty2112]

Cloudy? Raining? Sunny? That’s the $64,000 question (or UK £ equivalent!) 😉

Fingers crossed for the latter! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[John]

Sounds a nice conjunction to have a go for 🙂

Just don't tell the weather gods !!!! 😬

[Stu]

3 hours ago, Gfamily said:

I know the pinned post from @Stu suggests that this forum is for 'less predictable' events, but looking at other threads, I see that's a guideline rather than a rule (apologies). 

Just to flag up that there's a daytime occultation of Venus by the Moon on the morning of Thursday 9th November. In my location it starts at about 9.40am and Venus will re-emerge about an hour later. 

Totally predictable and totally off topic, but might be of interest if people are free. Helpfully, Venus will be easy to find just beforehand as the Moon will be right next to it   

 

Not at all off topic. I’ll have a look at the pinned post and amend as necessary because this is just the kind of thing to be posted here. I partly had my solar hat on when writing it I think, considering things like unexpected solar flares but to be honest, any event with observing whether predictable or not is welcome here. The idea is to follow the forum so you get alerts for any new posts for things to see.

I’m looking forward to this one, although I’ll work on the basis that it will definitely be hissing down with rain, and then just hope that the weather gods are kind instead! 🤞

[Nik271]

Cool! It will be a nice sight, one crescent occulting another much smaller crescent. 

I may try to image this, weather permitting. My DSLR has been sitting idle for a few months...

[Paul M]

Certainly worth looking out for.

But, so sure am I that weather, pestilence, locusts, extinction event etc... will intefere, I've created a world class video of the event using HNSky on my coal fired Ubuntu lappy. Most of my astronomy is online these days so..Enjoy!!

PS. the middle 35 seconds is soooo boring...

 

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Paul M

[Gfamily]

13 minutes ago, Paul M said:

 

I've created a world class video of the event using HNSky on my coal fired Ubuntu lappy. Most of my astronomy is online these days so..Enjoy!!

PS. the middle 35 seconds is soooo boring...

Lol - I was going to say "Oh, and look out for the grazing occultation of that star (HD104864) " - but ...

1.  it's only 10th magnitude 
2. it's a blooming daytime occultation. 

Probably not then. 

[Captain Scarlet]

Where I am, at 9.35 West and 51.485 North, it's touch-and-go whether Venus will be occulted at all. SkySafari suggests it will JUST dip below the Lunar disc. My own calculations suggest that it will _not quite_ touch it.* This will be my own version of the Einstein/Eddington moment 🤣🤣.

Hopefully, if SS wins and I Iose, I won't be condemned to the same fate as the losers in a certain Chinese Astronomy Competition (see Ferdinand Verbiest )!!!

I intend to set up a handful of scopes on the Pier in Baltimore Harbour and get those in my local astronomy group to be able to see it through a scope (so far most don't have one). I'm praying for no cloud.

Magnus

* the same difference as between the meanings of the word "amper" in Dutch and in Afrikaans, I've been led to believe. In one, "amper" means "nearly", in the other, "only just". Quite a difference when you apply it to the act of falling off a cliff.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Captain Scarlet

[CentaurZ]

Here are my graze map of the occultation and predictions for London:

[Captain Scarlet]

Curt @CentaurZ is your graze map a map of the locus-edge of where one can expect “just a touch” or a momentary full immersion?

Magnus

[CentaurZ]

21 minutes ago, Captain Scarlet said:

Curt @CentaurZ is your graze map a map of the locus-edge of where one can expect “just a touch” or a momentary full immersion?

Magnus

The graze line shows locations where the center of Venus will be momentarily on the lunar limb. Below is my data for your location regarding the center of Venus relative to the Moon. It appears as though the Moon will just barely cover all of Venus for you. Your observational report would be appreciated.

 

Edited October 27, 2023 by CentaurZ

[Stu]

Just a quick reminder, don’t forget this one tomorrow morning if you have any breaks in the inevitable cloud!

[johnturley]

6 minutes ago, Stu said:

Just a quick reminder, don’t forget this one tomorrow morning if you have any breaks in the inevitable cloud!

Unfortunately, weather outlook not very good in Derbyshire.

John 

[Captain Scarlet]

My forecast is for wind average 40mph gusting to 49mph with dark cloud and heavy rain. Nonetheless I have readied my spotting scope (waterproof) and will be waiting behind a sheltering hedge just in case a lucky gap appears!

Magnus

[Stu]

1 hour ago, johnturley said:

Unfortunately, weather outlook not very good in Derbyshire.

John 

Ditto here John, or rather delightful Dartford where I will be in the morning for my sins….

[Gfamily]

It does seem likely that many of us will struggle to see both ingress and egress, but if you're in the UK in a location where the weather deities aren't paying attention, the Moon will be more or less due South at about 9:20 with an altitude of ~40 degrees above the horizon - the Occultation starts some time between 9:30 and 9:40 depending on where you are. 

[Paz]

It's looking dodgy here this morning...

[lukebl]

It looked promising at 6 here in Norfolk, but clouded over just after 7.

Here's the view at about 7 just before the clouds rolled in.

[andrew63]

It's clear here, Venus is really bright close to the moon - actuality easier to see than the Moon naked eye. Like a sparkling jewel.

[Roy Challen]

11 minutes ago, andrew63 said:

It's clear here, Venus is really bright close to the moon - actuality easier to see than the Moon naked eye. Like a sparkling jewel.

Same here, at least for the moment 

[andrew63]

Just took an iPhone image, enlarged view but no view of Venus on screen. 

 

Edited November 9, 2023 by andrew63
photo

[Littleguy80]

I nearly gave up and headed into the office this morning. Lovely clear skies now!

[andrew63]

Clouds rolled in, but got this grab at 9.33