Image above shows Aldebaran near the moon, via Wikipedia
Tonight – February 25, 2015 – if you live at far-northern latitudes, you might see the moon hide the star Aldebaran, brightest light in the constellation Taurus, for a portion of the night. In Iceland, Greenland, and northern Europe, the moon will occult – cover over – Aldebaran for up to an hour or so. Look for Aldebaran to disappear behind the moon’s dark side and reappear on the moon’s illuminated side. Not at a far-northern latitude? That’s okay! You’ll have an awesome view of this bright star near the February 25 moon.
What’s more, we’re just two month into an occultation series of this star that’ll last until 2018! Read more about the occultation series of the star Aldebaran below.
The chart below shows the moon and Aldebaran as twosome appears at mid-northern North American latitudes on the evening of February 25. Their closeness to one another will vary worldwide, but even so, Aldebaran will be the closest bright star to the moon tonight.
This ruddy star depicts the Bull’s eye in the zodiacal constellation Taurus the Bull. Can you see its reddish color in the moon’s glare?
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The moon continually moves eastward in front of the backdrop stars. Watch the moon pass to the north of the constellation Orion during the next several days. The green line depicts the ecliptic.
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Occultation series of the star Aldebaran. On January 29, 2015 – less than one month ago – the first of a series of 49 monthly lunar occultations of Aldebaran began. This series will finally conclude on September 3, 2018. Few, if any, people saw last month’s occultation because it happened in the far-northern Arctic regions of the globe. An occultation series of Aldebaran always starts in the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
After the initial occultation, each subsequent occultation occurs farther and farther south on Earth’s globe, until reaching its southernmost point midway through the occultation series. The southernmost lunar occultation of Aldebaran will happen on August 25, 2016. Only far-northern regions of the Southern Hemisphere near the equator will be able to witness this southernmost occultation.
Then the series will move northward again, until the concluding occultation in the Arctic regions on September 3, 2018.
These Aldebaran occultation series repeat in cycles of 18.6 years. The last series featured 48 lunar occultations from August 8, 1996 to February 14, 2000. The next series will present 48 occultations from August 18, 2033 to February 23, 2037.
Bottom line: Enjoy the close pairing of the moon and star Aldebaran – brightest light in Taurus the Bull – on the night of February 25, 2015. It’s a prelude to more close encounters of the moon and this star in the years ahead.
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Image above shows Aldebaran near the moon, via Wikipedia
Tonight – February 25, 2015 – if you live at far-northern latitudes, you might see the moon hide the star Aldebaran, brightest light in the constellation Taurus, for a portion of the night. In Iceland, Greenland, and northern Europe, the moon will occult – cover over – Aldebaran for up to an hour or so. Look for Aldebaran to disappear behind the moon’s dark side and reappear on the moon’s illuminated side. Not at a far-northern latitude? That’s okay! You’ll have an awesome view of this bright star near the February 25 moon.
What’s more, we’re just two month into an occultation series of this star that’ll last until 2018! Read more about the occultation series of the star Aldebaran below.
The chart below shows the moon and Aldebaran as twosome appears at mid-northern North American latitudes on the evening of February 25. Their closeness to one another will vary worldwide, but even so, Aldebaran will be the closest bright star to the moon tonight.
This ruddy star depicts the Bull’s eye in the zodiacal constellation Taurus the Bull. Can you see its reddish color in the moon’s glare?
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
The moon continually moves eastward in front of the backdrop stars. Watch the moon pass to the north of the constellation Orion during the next several days. The green line depicts the ecliptic.
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Occultation series of the star Aldebaran. On January 29, 2015 – less than one month ago – the first of a series of 49 monthly lunar occultations of Aldebaran began. This series will finally conclude on September 3, 2018. Few, if any, people saw last month’s occultation because it happened in the far-northern Arctic regions of the globe. An occultation series of Aldebaran always starts in the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
After the initial occultation, each subsequent occultation occurs farther and farther south on Earth’s globe, until reaching its southernmost point midway through the occultation series. The southernmost lunar occultation of Aldebaran will happen on August 25, 2016. Only far-northern regions of the Southern Hemisphere near the equator will be able to witness this southernmost occultation.
Then the series will move northward again, until the concluding occultation in the Arctic regions on September 3, 2018.
These Aldebaran occultation series repeat in cycles of 18.6 years. The last series featured 48 lunar occultations from August 8, 1996 to February 14, 2000. The next series will present 48 occultations from August 18, 2033 to February 23, 2037.
Bottom line: Enjoy the close pairing of the moon and star Aldebaran – brightest light in Taurus the Bull – on the night of February 25, 2015. It’s a prelude to more close encounters of the moon and this star in the years ahead.
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1DTTqzl
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