Moon to eclipse Venus

SCIENCE@NASA ^ | NASA

[djf]

About 24 hours from now, the crescent moon will occult Venus. The event will be visible from the western part of the US. If conditions are right, it could be an interesting event!

[djf]

[Vaquero]

I figure that since both bodies, run pretty much through the plane of the solar system, or ecliptic if you will, that this is not a rare occurence (especially considering the relatively large size of the moon and relatively small size of Venus as both are viewed from earth), perhaps more frequent than lunar ecliplses, which are relatively frequent.

[DainBramage]

[djf]

I agree you would think that.

But wasn’t there a time like last year when Venus transited the Sun, and I remember alot of ballyhoo about it, only happening like once a century or something.

If the weather is good, I might take a look.

[Vaquero]

the last time this happened was March of ‘08 so that is a little over a year....

[fhayek]

If I read your chart right, and extrapolate, my view from Buffalo might be interesting,with Venus just grazing the bottom edge of the moon. I have to check it out.

[messierhunter]

But wasn’t there a time like last year when Venus transited the Sun, and I remember alot of ballyhoo about it

2004, actually. It was the first time anyone alive had seen it. I took special care to photograph it because we only get one more chance to see it in our lifetime, in 2012:


Occultations of planets by the moon aren't terribly rare per se, but they are more location-dependent than a lunar eclipse: http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/planets/planets.htm

[SunkenCiv]

Just an astronomy topic, not really on-list, but probably of interest. :')

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