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The moon will obscure Venus in the evening sky on Wednesday.(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
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On June 17, for the first time in over a decade, individuals across North America will have the opportunity to observe Venus temporarily disappear behind the slender crescent moon in the daytime sky.
This infrequent celestial event is visible to the unaided eye and can be documented without specialized instruments, provided that atmospheric conditions are favorable. However, utilizing a good pair of binoculars or a small backyard telescope will significantly enhance the visibility of Venus’s faint daytime glow. Regardless of your observation method, extreme caution must be exercised to avoid direct sun gazing during the event.
This phenomenon, referred to as a lunar occultation, occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and Venus, which has been particularly radiant in recent weeks while situated near Jupiter in the evening sky. Consequently, the infernal planet will seem to vanish momentarily before resurfacing approximately an hour later, offering two distinct skywatching experiences. The last occurrence was on December 7, 2015, and it will not be observable again until 2029.
How to witness Venus’s disappearance
The occultation will be observable from the contiguous 48 U.S. states, along with substantial portions of Canada and certain nations in the northern regions of South America, assuming clear skies prevail during the event. (Current weather predictions indicate the most favorable conditions are expected along the West Coast.)
As is typical with astronomical occurrences like solar eclipses, simultaneous observation will not be universal. For instance, residents of San Francisco will witness Venus vanish around 11:34 a.m. PDT, while those in Miami will observe the planet’s disappearance at approximately 4:06 p.m. EDT (roughly 92 minutes later, excluding time zone differences).
The duration of the occultation will also differ based on geographical position. For example, Venus will emerge from behind the moon after about 58 minutes for observers in San Antonio, whereas individuals in Philadelphia will need to wait approximately 80 minutes for the planet’s reappearance.
Precise timing details for over 700 locations within the U.S. can be found in a compilation by the International Occultation Timing Association.
The optimal vantage point for observing both the vanishing and reappearance of Venus will be from within the protective shadow of a large tree or structure. Shielding your view from the sun will not only facilitate the observation of both the moon and Venus but also mitigate the risk of eye injury from direct solar exposure.
Should you encounter difficulties in observing the occultation, consider employing your smartphone’s camera to magnify the waxing crescent, aiding in the location and recording of Venus, as advised by Spaceweather.com.
What the June 17 lunar occultation will look like
During this event, approximately 11% of the moon will be faintly discernible in the daylight sky, according to Sky & Telescope. Roughly three-quarters of Venus will be visible, though it will appear as a solitary point to the naked eye; consequently, the planet will shine considerably brighter than the moon. The celestial pair will be situated collectively about 38 degrees away from the sun in the sky.
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Venus will recede behind the lunar side opposite the illuminated sliver and will take approximately 30 seconds to fade from view entirely. It will then re-emerge above the crescent, reminiscent of the renowned “Earthrise” images captured by lunar astronauts, such as those from the Artemis II mission. (The precise location of Venus’s disappearance and reappearance will be contingent upon your global position.)
Should you miss this occultation or desire to witness another celestial spectacle, make sure to venture outside later the same day, roughly an hour after sunset. At that time, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury will be visible alongside the crescent moon as it traverses the Beehive Cluster (also known as M44).
Sourse: www.livescience.com
