Before sunrise on Monday – December 7, 2015 – people around the world will see the brightest and second-brightest celestial bodies of nighttime, the moon and Venus, shining close together during the predawn and dawn hours. The view from North America, Central America and the Caribbean will be especially spectacular, as the two brilliant beauties brush up together on the great dome of sky. From some parts of North America at Monday’s predawn, the moon will pass in front of Venus. Astronomers call this an occultation. The occultation is visible from the continental U.S., but only in daylight. However, December 7 is also a great time to try to see Venus in the daytime, either with binoculars or your unaided eye. Follow the links below to learn more:
Predawn occultation of Venus on December 7
Daytime occultation of Venus on December 7
Seeing Venus in daytime on December 7
Comet Catalina is near the moon and Venus on December 7
Much of North America is facing the right way as the moon occults, or covers over, Venus on Monday. But for the continental U.S., the occultation happens in daylight. Chart via lunar-occultations.com.
Predawn occultation of Venus on December 7. The most enviable location for watching a predawn occultation of Venus on Monday, December 7, is from northwestern North America (Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories). People from that part of the globe can watch as the moon occults – covers over – Venus for an hour or more before sunrise.
Venus will disappear behind the lit side of the waning crescent moon and then reappear on the unilluminated side of the crescent.
We give the occultation times for three localities in local time below:
Fairbanks, Alaska
Occultation begins: 6:43 a.m. Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Occultation ends: 7:50 a.m. AKST
Sunrise: 10:33 a.m. AKSTAnchorage, Alaska
Occultation begins: 6:34 a.m. AKST
Occultation ends: 7:47 a.m. AKST
Sunrise: 9:56 a.m. AKSTDawson, Yukon, Canada
Occultation begins: 7:50 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Occultation ends: 8:55 a.m. PST
Sunrise: 10:48 a.m. PST
More information on the lunar occultation of Venus on December 7 is available right here. However, you must convert Universal Time to your local clock time. Subtract 9 hours from Universal Time for Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and subtract 8 hours for Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Daytime occultation of Venus on December 7. Actually, the occultation of Venus will happen virtually all over North America, Central America and the Caribbean. For the most part, though, this occultation will be during the daylight hours on Monday, December 7. If you can manage it, a daylight occultation of Venus is an excellent time to capture dramatic photographs, like those caught by Ravindra Aradhya in Bangalore, India during the February 26, 2014 daytime occultation of Venus by the moon from that part of the world.
Los Angeles, California
Occultation begins: 8:03 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Occultation ends: 9:53 a.m. PSTDenver, Colorado
Occultation begins: 9:35 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Occultation ends: 11:12 a.m. MSTChicago, Illinois
Occultation begins: 11:17 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST)
Occultation ends: 12:32 p.m. CSTBoston, Massachusetts
Occultation begins: 12:42 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Occultation ends: 1:46 p.m. EST
Access to more cities’ occultation times at http://ift.tt/zvTr0L
View larger. | John Ashley in Montana submitted this photo to EarthSky, of a daylight occultation of Venus. He wrote: “The attached image is a composite of six photos taken at 1-minute intervals, photographed in August 2000 from Glacier National Park, Montana. It’s one of 100+ photos from my book, Glacier National Park After Dark.“
It was morning, and the sky was blue, when the February 26, 2014 occultation of Venus by the moon began over Bangalore, India. Photo by Ravindra Aradhya in Bangalore, India. Used with permission. More photos by Ravindra of this dramatic event.
Seeing Venus in daytime on December 7. Do you have sharp eyes? if so, you might be able to use the moon to locate Venus after sunrise on December 7, 2015.
It’s true. People with good vision are able to see Venus in a daytime sky with no optical aid whatsoever. Most of us, though, will probably need binoculars spot Venus next the moon during the daylight hours on December 7. Just be sure to check the times listed above for the occultation! If you look, and can’t see Venus, it might be because the occultation is in progress, and Venus is behind the moon.
It might be tricky locating this very thin waning moon in a daytime sky. Remember that the moon is west (right) of the sun; that is, from the sun’s location in the sky, you would track along the sun’s path, in a westward direction or direction toward the sunset point, to find the moon. The moon goes westward during the day, pretty much staying the same angular distance west of the sun all day long.
It may be helpful to block out the sun behind a building, or your hand, when seeking for the slender crescent. Keep in mind that the moon and Venus will be about 40o west (right) of the daytime sun. For reference, your fist at an arm length approximates 10o of sky.
Comet Catalina is near the moon and Venus on December 7.
December 7, 2015, 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise. Comet Catalina will be close to Venus and the waning moon on this date. Think photo opportunity! Illustration: Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium. Read more about Comet Catalina.
Greg Hogan submitted this photo to EarthSky. It’s Comet Catalina on December 4, 2015. Thanks, Greg!
Bottom line: Whether you’re in a position to witness the lunar occultation of Venus – or not – we highly recommend that you watch the great moon and Venus drama before sunrise on Monday, December 7, 2015!
Astronomy events, star parties, festivals, workshops for September-December, 2015
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1NmnokX
Before sunrise on Monday – December 7, 2015 – people around the world will see the brightest and second-brightest celestial bodies of nighttime, the moon and Venus, shining close together during the predawn and dawn hours. The view from North America, Central America and the Caribbean will be especially spectacular, as the two brilliant beauties brush up together on the great dome of sky. From some parts of North America at Monday’s predawn, the moon will pass in front of Venus. Astronomers call this an occultation. The occultation is visible from the continental U.S., but only in daylight. However, December 7 is also a great time to try to see Venus in the daytime, either with binoculars or your unaided eye. Follow the links below to learn more:
Predawn occultation of Venus on December 7
Daytime occultation of Venus on December 7
Seeing Venus in daytime on December 7
Comet Catalina is near the moon and Venus on December 7
Much of North America is facing the right way as the moon occults, or covers over, Venus on Monday. But for the continental U.S., the occultation happens in daylight. Chart via lunar-occultations.com.
Predawn occultation of Venus on December 7. The most enviable location for watching a predawn occultation of Venus on Monday, December 7, is from northwestern North America (Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories). People from that part of the globe can watch as the moon occults – covers over – Venus for an hour or more before sunrise.
Venus will disappear behind the lit side of the waning crescent moon and then reappear on the unilluminated side of the crescent.
We give the occultation times for three localities in local time below:
Fairbanks, Alaska
Occultation begins: 6:43 a.m. Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Occultation ends: 7:50 a.m. AKST
Sunrise: 10:33 a.m. AKSTAnchorage, Alaska
Occultation begins: 6:34 a.m. AKST
Occultation ends: 7:47 a.m. AKST
Sunrise: 9:56 a.m. AKSTDawson, Yukon, Canada
Occultation begins: 7:50 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Occultation ends: 8:55 a.m. PST
Sunrise: 10:48 a.m. PST
More information on the lunar occultation of Venus on December 7 is available right here. However, you must convert Universal Time to your local clock time. Subtract 9 hours from Universal Time for Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and subtract 8 hours for Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Daytime occultation of Venus on December 7. Actually, the occultation of Venus will happen virtually all over North America, Central America and the Caribbean. For the most part, though, this occultation will be during the daylight hours on Monday, December 7. If you can manage it, a daylight occultation of Venus is an excellent time to capture dramatic photographs, like those caught by Ravindra Aradhya in Bangalore, India during the February 26, 2014 daytime occultation of Venus by the moon from that part of the world.
Los Angeles, California
Occultation begins: 8:03 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Occultation ends: 9:53 a.m. PSTDenver, Colorado
Occultation begins: 9:35 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Occultation ends: 11:12 a.m. MSTChicago, Illinois
Occultation begins: 11:17 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST)
Occultation ends: 12:32 p.m. CSTBoston, Massachusetts
Occultation begins: 12:42 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Occultation ends: 1:46 p.m. EST
Access to more cities’ occultation times at http://ift.tt/zvTr0L
View larger. | John Ashley in Montana submitted this photo to EarthSky, of a daylight occultation of Venus. He wrote: “The attached image is a composite of six photos taken at 1-minute intervals, photographed in August 2000 from Glacier National Park, Montana. It’s one of 100+ photos from my book, Glacier National Park After Dark.“
It was morning, and the sky was blue, when the February 26, 2014 occultation of Venus by the moon began over Bangalore, India. Photo by Ravindra Aradhya in Bangalore, India. Used with permission. More photos by Ravindra of this dramatic event.
Seeing Venus in daytime on December 7. Do you have sharp eyes? if so, you might be able to use the moon to locate Venus after sunrise on December 7, 2015.
It’s true. People with good vision are able to see Venus in a daytime sky with no optical aid whatsoever. Most of us, though, will probably need binoculars spot Venus next the moon during the daylight hours on December 7. Just be sure to check the times listed above for the occultation! If you look, and can’t see Venus, it might be because the occultation is in progress, and Venus is behind the moon.
It might be tricky locating this very thin waning moon in a daytime sky. Remember that the moon is west (right) of the sun; that is, from the sun’s location in the sky, you would track along the sun’s path, in a westward direction or direction toward the sunset point, to find the moon. The moon goes westward during the day, pretty much staying the same angular distance west of the sun all day long.
It may be helpful to block out the sun behind a building, or your hand, when seeking for the slender crescent. Keep in mind that the moon and Venus will be about 40o west (right) of the daytime sun. For reference, your fist at an arm length approximates 10o of sky.
Comet Catalina is near the moon and Venus on December 7.
December 7, 2015, 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise. Comet Catalina will be close to Venus and the waning moon on this date. Think photo opportunity! Illustration: Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium. Read more about Comet Catalina.
Greg Hogan submitted this photo to EarthSky. It’s Comet Catalina on December 4, 2015. Thanks, Greg!
Bottom line: Whether you’re in a position to witness the lunar occultation of Venus – or not – we highly recommend that you watch the great moon and Venus drama before sunrise on Monday, December 7, 2015!
Astronomy events, star parties, festivals, workshops for September-December, 2015
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1NmnokX
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