PCW Memorial Observatory – Erika Rix

Occultation occurs when a larger body passes in front of a smaller body. In this case, the moon began its passage in front of variable star HIP26451 (Zeta Tauri) last night at 0233 UT (2012 05 23) in the constellation Taurus. I caught this image by accident while imaging the alignment of Venus, the Moon and multiple star Elnath HIP25428. Had I continued photographing the scene for the next several minutes, Zeta Tauri would have disappeared completely behind the Moon and then reappear at 0318 UT (2012 05 23), long after the Moon fell below my horizon.

Venus had a phase of 7% disk illumination with an angular size of 53 arcseconds. The Moon was on lunation 2.11 days with a colongitude of 297.4 degrees.

Photo details:

Alignment photo: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT, F/4, 2.5 seconds, ISO – 1600, 92mm
Occultation photo: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT, F/5.6, 1.6 seconds, ISO – 1600, 300mm

~ by Erika Rix on May 23, 2012.

Posted in Lunar Observations, Lunar Observations 2012, Occultation, Venus
Tags: conjunction, Elnath, Moon, Occultation, Venus, Zeta Tauri