Want to Get Into the Occult?

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No, not THAT kind . . . the astronomical kind. This is from Sky & Telescope’s online feature called This Week’s Sky at a Glance:

Friday, July 19

Telescope users looking at the gibbous Moon from most of North America tonight can watch the Moon’s invisible dark limb creep up to and occult the 4.4-magnitude star Xi Ophiuchi. Only Florida and the West miss out.

Some times of the star’s disappearance: in western Massachusetts, 12:38 a.m. EDT; Atlanta, 12:32 a.m. EDT; Chicago, 11:10 p.m. CDT; Winnipeg, 10:50 p.m. CDT; Kansas City, 11:00 p.m. CDT; Austin, 11:07 p.m. CDT; Denver, 9:39 p.m. MDT. Start watching early.

I will be out with my telescope. Seeing an occultation is very cool. Let’s hope it’s clear!

Here is an image of the Moon grazing the star Spica.

Here is an image of the Moon grazing the star Spica.

One thought on “Want to Get Into the Occult?”

  1. Stewart Dale Spencer Post author

    Arrgh! I found it just before the moon occulted it. I looked away to call my son and when I looked back, it was gone! I missed the “wink out” moment. Another one of life’s little lessons, filed away for future reference.

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