Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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seigell United States of America
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Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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Post by seigell »


LUNAR OCCULTATION of MARS

Early Morning, Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Given clear skies, all of the United States (with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii) will be in a position to watch this lunar occultation of Mars. But whether this occultation takes place before dawn, at dawn or in a daytime sky, depends on where you live within the United States. Even in the predawn sky, your view of the occultation could be less than ideal because of light pollution. In that case, use binoculars!

(As seen from: Tampa FL)

Mars Occultation Starts: 7:09:45 A.M. (12:09 UT) / Moon 34 degrees above the horizon

Mars Occultation Ends: 8:53:00 A.M. (13:53 UT) / Moon 38 degrees above the horizon

Lunar phase: waning crescent- 29%

Moon rise: 3:25 A.M.

Sun rise: 7:05 A.M.

Credit: IOTA, Sky & Telescope & Bruce McClure (Astronomy Essentials)
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Re: Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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Post by XCalRocketMan »


I'm ready for this ... but the weather probably isn't :)
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Re: Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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Post by JayTee »


I'm getting gipped!

Mildly disappointed,
JT
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seigell United States of America
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Re: Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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Post by seigell »


Then on the 19th, the Waning Crescent approaches within 1.5 Deg of Jupiter as they fall below the Western Horizon in the Early Afternoon.
ES AR152 / ES 80ED Apo / Orion 8in F/3.9 / C9.25-SCT / C6-SCT / C10-NGT / AT6RC / ST-80 / AstroView 90 / Meade 6000 APO 115mm
CGEM (w HyperTune and ADM bling) / 2x CG5-AGT / Forest of Tripod legs / Star Adventurer / Orion EQ-G
550D (Modded-G.Honis) / 60D / 400D / NexImage / NexGuide / Mini 50 SSAG / ST-8300C / ASI120MM-S / ASI1600MM-Cool
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Re: Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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Post by seigell »


Next, in the Morning of the 20th, the Thin Crescent does a similar 2.5 Deg Fly-By of Saturn from Moonrise at about 5:15AM EST.
ES AR152 / ES 80ED Apo / Orion 8in F/3.9 / C9.25-SCT / C6-SCT / C10-NGT / AT6RC / ST-80 / AstroView 90 / Meade 6000 APO 115mm
CGEM (w HyperTune and ADM bling) / 2x CG5-AGT / Forest of Tripod legs / Star Adventurer / Orion EQ-G
550D (Modded-G.Honis) / 60D / 400D / NexImage / NexGuide / Mini 50 SSAG / ST-8300C / ASI120MM-S / ASI1600MM-Cool
Dark Skies in SW CO when I can get there, and badly light polluted backyard when I can't... (Currently Self-Exiled to Muggy Central Florida...)
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Re: Lunar Occultation of Mars - 2/18/2020

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Post by Bigzmey »


Thanks for the heads up Seigell! Here on the West coast, it will start ~3 am but the Moon will be rising about the same time. Someone with clear eastern horizon (not me) could catch the Moon sliding of Mars.
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