Lunar occultations

Thanks Andy, that's a very nice clear resource. I'm looking forward to 25 October already... the lunar occultation with Saturn should be something pretty special. there was one on 14 May, but only visible in the southern hemisphere... video of the event is here.

The October occultation is visible in the UK.

Probably the best resource for lunar information is the BAA Lunar Section - here. Not a resource for the faint hearted... there is a vast amount of information, and the lunar section circulars are particularly informative. However, it can be a little daunting at times, so the SPA lunar section is probably a little easier for less experienced observers to use.

Thanks for the guides. Love that down under video! I too will look forward to the lunar Saturn occultation. The key on the spa table doesn't seem to quite correlate in their abbreviations as if it was edited from a different source? Thursday 25th October will still be in DST, just before the clock goes back so that UT time translate to 5:05pm start occultation time for us. Giving nine to fivers a slightly better chance to leave work earlier and a little darker sky for contrast.

That's true Tej... the occultation will start at around 5:05pm BST. But remember, we get to see Saturn reappearing on the other side of the Moon as well.

That will occur just over an hour later at around 6:07pm BST, so the Sun will have set by then, though the Moon will only be 5 degrees above the south-west horizon. Yikes... we will need a flat horizon! Might have to do a recce of Shrewsbury Park at the top of Shooters Hill. The horizon on Blackheath to the south-west may be a little too obscured.

Ah two opportunities each with their own caveat 🙂

Plenty of time to plan Mike! What about on top of the observatory hill itself? Don't we get a clear enough horizon from there or do we need permission to use that surrounding vicinity?

Hi Tej. From observatory hill, we get great views to the north and east, but the southern and western horizons are obscured by buildings and trees... so it's far from ideal for an event like this.

We'll find somewhere.