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WAITING FOR THE
SHADOW
SOLAR AND LUNAR ECLIPSE OBSERVING |
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  Resources A figure of the event generated by Occult, computed by Dave Herald, is at http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/observations/NA/2014_04_16%20Venus.jpg Graphics produced using Starry Night Pro 6.0 Continue to Lunar Eclipse April 15, 2014 Weather Prospects for both events |
Occultation of bright star lamda Aquarii
by Venus on April 17 At about 4am on April 17, the planet Venus will occult the 3.7 magnitude star Lamda Aquarii. The star is visible to the naked eye but once it approaches the bright glare of Venus, a telescope will be required to observe the event. Venus is currently close to greatest elongation and its atmosphere illumination is like that of a gibbous moon a bit past first quarter. Even with a telescope, the disappearance will be very difficult to observe as the star gets lost against the glare of the bright limb of Venus. The reappearance, however, will be very easy to observe as it reappears out of the dark limb of Venus. As it does, there may be a gradual brightening as the stars light penetrates the thick Venutian atmosphere. There is also a possibility of observing a faint ring of light (similar to the Lomonossov Arc sometimes observed during a transit of Venus) around the dark limb from the light of the star. The diagram below shows the stars path as seen from Canberra. Approximate reappearance times in the table below. Depending upon telescope aperture, the reappearance of the star through the atmosphere of Venus may vary from these calculations. Calculations made with Starry Night Pro v6.  In all east coast locations, Venus sits 10-17o altitude and rises almost due east. CITY.............ALTITUDE......REAPPEARANCE
Melbourne.............11o....................18:04:30 Canberra................14o....................18:04:35 Sydney..................16o.....................18:04:46 Brisbane................17o................._..18:05:03 Cairns...................10o.....................18:05:16 Adelaide.............. ...5o....................18:04:36 For most of eastern Australia Disappearance 17:59 UT ±0.5 minute Reappearance 18:04 UT ±0.5 minute |
