(-09-) From: Bob Victor <victor@pilot.msu.edu>
Subject: Re: Skywatcher's Diary - February 1995
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 1995 11:14:41 -0500
OCCULTING VENUS: WHEN THE MOON GETS IN THE WAY, OR AT LEAST CLOSE
Mike Perry <dmperry@access.digex.net> wrote:
> I've been told there was a phenomenon with the crescent moon
> in juxtaposition with the Planet Venus that is a fairly rare occurence.
> Could you give me more details? Jan. 27, 1995. Thanks.
In a posting to sci.astro.planetarium, you asked about the close
encounter between Venus and the Moon on the morning of Jan. 27, and
inquired about how often such encounters occur.
The encounter between Moon and Venus last Friday included an occultation
of Venus by the Moon visible from parts of southern Mexico, Central
America, and northern South America. From points farther north, including
the U.S., the Moon did not cover Venus, but instead, owing to the Moon's
parallax, appeared to pass narrowly to the south of Venus. It was clear
here in Michigan that morning, and the timing of the event allowed us to
view the closest approach of the two bodies in a dark sky, a spectacular
sight!
The only other occultation of Venus in 1995 will be from a portion of
the North Atlantic before sunup on May 27, and from Greenland, Iceland,
the British Isles, Europe except the SE, and N. Russia except the extreme
E. Unfortunately, it will be a daytime event for most locations. By the
time the Moon rises in North America that morning, the Moon will already
be to the east of Venus and moving away.
In 1996, on the evening of February 21, a spectacular occultation of
Venus will take place in Hawaii. North Americans will have to be content
with watching the Moon close in on Venus until moonset. Across the
Dateline in Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, and the western Pacific
Ocean, the occultation takes place in daylight on Feb. 22.
[...]
Bob Victor
Abrams Planetarium
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
USA
victor@pilot.msu.edu
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- T o d d E. V a n H o o s e a r -
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(._.) Michigan State University - East Lansing, MI USA
(_) Computer Laboratory - Department of Communication
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