Another photographic opportunity?
Just received this from the Society of Popular Astronomy.
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The SOCIETY for POPULAR ASTRONOMY
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Special Electronic News Bulletin 2007 June 14
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DAYLIGHT OCCULTATION OF VENUS
June 18, 2007
By Jon Harper, Occultation Section
After the Sun and Moon, Venus, as I'm sure you know, is the third-
brightest natural celestial object in the entire sky (unless a nearby
supernova were to go off!). So unlike the recent difficult daylight
occultation of Saturn on May 22, you will have a much better chance
with this event which takes place on Monday, June 18, owing to the
brilliance of Venus (V ~ -4.0). The Moon at the time of the
occultation is a 3.7-day-old waxing crescent, and Venus itself presents
a broader crescent showing a phase of 0.44. Venus at the time is just
a couple of weeks past its greatest elongation east of the Sun, and
lies some 45° away from the latter; therefore sunlight will not be a
problem. Neither will it be a danger because of the angular separation
distance noted above. This event can be observed with the naked eye,
given a clear, transparent sky, but binoculars are obviously better.
With a good pair, you may just possibly be able to detect the planet's
phase if the binoculars are firmly fixed and well focussed.
Incidentally, if you have never seen Venus with the naked eye in
daylight before, now is your chance to do so. The Moon will help you!
Simply find the Moon, quite easy to do in a clear sky, and look just
two Moon diameters (1°) to the lower left of the crescent at around
lunchtime on the 18th. With any telescope of course the occultation
will be truly spectacular against the daylight sky!
The table lists the times of disappearance of the planet at the Moon's
dark limb (DD), and the reappearance at the bright limb (RB), in the
vicinity of Mare Smythii, near the Moon's true-eastern limb (west as
we see it) for 14 UK cities, one of which may be near you. Don't
forget to add an hour to the times given in order to obtain the local
('summer') time of each event. If you want more detailed information
specifically for your location, do drop me an e-mail specifying where
you live. Any observation reports, timings, and/or images will be
gratefully received at the same address:
[email protected] and will be
put up on the Occultation Section's web pages. Peter Grego intends to
do a web cast of the occultation from his location near Birmingham, so
if you have cloudy skies where you are, there is another chance to
watch available, courtesy of the Lunar Section.
CITY DD (UT) RB (UT)
BELFAST 13:52 15:10
BIRMINGHAM 13:58 15:18
CAMBRIDGE 14:01 15:21
CANTERBURY 14:04 15:23
CARDIFF 13:58 15:15
GLASGOW 13:53 15:13
INVERNESS 13:52 15:12
LIVERPOOL 13:56 15:15
LONDONDERRY 13:50 15:08
NEWCASTLE 13:57 15:17
NORWICH 14:02 15:23
PLYMOUTH 13:58 15:13
SHEFFIELD 13:58 15:18
SOUTHAMPTON 14:01 15:19
Bulletin compiled by Clive Down
(c) 2007 the Society for Popular Astronomy
The Society for Popular Astronomy has been helping beginners to
amateur astronomy -- and more experienced observers -- for 50
years. If you are not a member then you may be missing something.
Membership rates are extremely reasonable, starting at just £15 a
year in the UK. You will receive our bright quarterly magazine
Popular Astronomy, regular printed News Circulars, help and advice
in pursuing your hobby, the chance to hear top astronomers at our
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http://popastro.c.topica.com/maagKTTabzdRCa9n9S4b/
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Dave