LUNAR PHENOMENA 2016

The Crescent Moon & the bright morning planets

Some astronomical events can be quite spectacular, and make great photo opportunities for Astro photographers if they get to know about them in advance. Planning is important so all of the elements fall nicely into place to make that truly assume photo.

Clear skies permitting over the next two mornings, the crescent Moon will be seen close to all three bright planets, a prelude of what's to come in December. 

The lovely image was taken by David Blanchflower (Newcastle Upon-Tyne. UK) : Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon (through clouds). 06:04 UT 6 November 2015. Canon 1200D. 55mm zoom. Handheld.

PLANETARY CONJUNCTIONS:

On the morning of 6th November the crescent Moon will be 2ºN of Jupiter, and on the morning of 7th November the Moon is 2ºN of Mars and 1.2º N of Venus, for some amateur astronomers it will be a trial run for next month's double occultation event.

PLANETARY OCCULTATIONS:

At 03am on 6 December the Moon will pass in front of Mars – the Red planet-- hiding it from view, an event known as an occultation. This rare event is visible from Central & East Africa, South Arabian Peninsula, the Southern tip of India, Indonesia and Australia.

Then at 07am on 7 December the Moon will occult the brilliant planet Venus. This event is visible from North & Central America, and the Caribbean.

Sadly in other area of the Earth the Moon is below the horizon when the occultations take place. Nevertheless there are going to be some great photos of these events in face book groups, something for you to look forwards to. Clear skies. R.P.

November: ‘LUNAR OCCULTATIONS’

There are 11 lunar occultations – Photo opportunities -- to look forward to during the remainder of this month, four visible from Greenwich (London), one from Edinburgh (UK), and five from Sydney & Melbourne Australia. All times are GMT (Universal time).

The PA Is the ‘position angle’ of the star, measured to the celestial East (anticlockwise) from the northernmost point of the Moon’s limb.

GREENWICH E 0.0° N 51.5°

18 Nov 18 Aqr            Mag +5.5 DD Time 18h 43.3m PA 131°
19 Nov HIP 110009   Mag +5.8 DD Time 17h 28.6m PA 45°
27 Nov 111 Tau         Mag +5.0 RD Time 06h 51.4m PA 249°
28 Nov HIP 29616     Mag +5.9 RD Time 02h 21.7m PA 289°

EDINBURGH W 3.2° N 56.0°

29 Nov Gem        Mag +3.6 DB Time 04h 57.8m PA 171°
29 Nov Gem        Mag +3.6 RD Time 05h 20.9m PA 209°

SYDNEY E 151.2° S 33.9°

13 Nov φ Oph         Mag +4.3 DD Time 09h 28.4m PA 98°
23 Nov ο Psc          Mag +4.3 DD Time 12h 41.5m PA 50°
23 Nov ο Psc          Mag +4.3 DD Time 13h 54.9m PA 266°
21 Nov XZ Psc       Mag +5.8 DD Time 14h 4.9m PA 107°
29 Nov 74 Gem      Mag +5.0 RD Time 13h 0.3m PA 304°

MELBOURNE E 145.1° S 37.9°

13 Nov φ Oph        Mag +4.3 DD Time 09h 25.3m PA 104°
23 Nov ο Psc         Mag +4.3 DD Time 12h 25.7m PA 52°
23 Nov ο Psc         Mag +4.3 DD Time 13h 40.6m PA 262°
21 Nov XZ Psc      Mag +5.8 DD Time 13h 56.3m PA 114°
29 Nov 74 Gem     Mag +5.0 RD Time 13h 1.8m PA 298