Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Watch the Moon Meet Venus in the Dawn this Wednesday
universetoday.com ^ | February 24, 2014 | David Dickinson on

Posted on 02/24/2014 5:37:34 PM PST by BenLurkin

Are you ready for some lunar versus planetary occultation action? One of the best events for 2014 occurs early this Wednesday morning on February 26th, when the waning crescent Moon — sometimes referred to as a decrescent Moon — meets up with a brilliant Venus in the dawn sky. This will be a showcase event for the ongoing 2014 dawn apparition of Venus that we wrote about recently.

This is one of 16 occultations of a planet by our Moon for 2014, which will hide every naked eye classical planet except Jupiter and only one of two involving Venus this year.

...

Wednesday’s event has a central conjunction time of 5:00 Universal. Viewers in northwestern Africa based in Mali and southern Algeria and surrounding nations will see the occultation occur in the dawn sky before sunrise, while viewers eastward across the Horn of Africa, the southern Arabian peninsula, India and southeast Asia will see the occultation occur in the daylight.

Observers worldwide, including those based in Australia, Europe and the Americas will see a near miss, but early risers will still be rewarded with a brilliant dawn pairing of the second and third brightest objects in the night sky. This will also be a fine time to attempt to spot Venus in the daytime, using the nearby crescent Moon as a guide. It’s easier than you might think! In fact, Venus is actually brighter than the Moon per apparent square arc second of surface area, owing to its higher average reflectivity (known as albedo) of 80% versus the Moon’s dusky 14%.

(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: jupiter; mars; mercury; moon; saturn; themoon; venus

1 posted on 02/24/2014 5:37:34 PM PST by BenLurkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Thanks. I have a nearby hillside that’s a great moon-watching spot if the weather cooperates.


2 posted on 02/24/2014 5:56:23 PM PST by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

So most of us in the Western Hemisphere don’t get to see it. I guess it’s just a case of Venus envy.


3 posted on 02/24/2014 6:01:42 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Maybe someone with a good vantage point will post a pic...


4 posted on 02/24/2014 6:31:13 PM PST by uncommonsense (Liberals see what they believe; Conservatives believe what they see.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Veto!

The weather NEVER co-operates here.


5 posted on 02/24/2014 6:45:17 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin; brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; ...

Thanks BenLurkin, extra to APoD.


6 posted on 02/24/2014 7:02:49 PM PST by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

> This is one of 16 occultations of a planet by our Moon for 2014, which will hide every naked eye classical planet except Jupiter and only one of two involving Venus this year.


7 posted on 02/24/2014 7:03:33 PM PST by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Hillarys Gate Cult

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/saywhat.wav


8 posted on 02/24/2014 7:06:32 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
BFL

FMCDH(BITS)

9 posted on 02/24/2014 7:14:31 PM PST by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

The moon and Venus are the second and third brightest objects in the night sky? What is the brightest?


10 posted on 02/25/2014 11:21:18 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Verginius Rufus

The sun, I guess.


11 posted on 02/25/2014 1:21:49 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
The sun is obviously the brightest object in the sky...but it usually isn't visible at night. Maybe the writer was just being careless.

Jupiter is pretty bright right now in Gemini in the evening sky...but it is generally not as bright as Venus (it may occasionally be brighter but usually not).

12 posted on 02/25/2014 2:21:47 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson