Lunar Occultations

Total or grazing lunar occultations are among the events with the longest tradition in occultation astronomy.

For total lunar occultations as well as for grazing lunar occultations, the precise knowledge of the lunar limb is an absolute prerequisite. The MOONLIMB program does provide such precise data. An overview is given here.

Grazing Occultations of stars by the moon are local events and thus require an individual selection according to personal observation preferences. The GRAZPREP-software assists in all aspects of finding individually interesting events as well as selecting the best observing stations promising the most contacts between the star and the lunar limb in high resolution. If you are interested in these fascinating events, have a look here.

Members of IOTA get for their own observing stations predictions of lunar occultations, either total or grazing ones, specially calculated for their observatory and/or travel radius in case of mobile stations. Some bright total lunar occultations, as can be seen from a point in central Europe (Frankfurt a.M.) are given as follows for the year 2025:

Occultation prediction for Frankfurt, Germany
E. Longitude    8 39  0.0,  Latitude  50  8 30.0,  Alt.    0m;  Telescope dia 15cm;  dMag 0.0

       day  Time     P   Star  Sp  Mag  Mag    % Elon Sun  Moon   CA   PA  VA  AA
 y   m  d  h  m   s       No  D     v    r V  ill     Alt Alt Az   o    o   o   o
26 Mar 16  9 36 19.0 r    3171cA7  3.7  3.5v   8-  34  32 23 181  18S 175 174 193
26 Mar 29 18 22 37.2 D    1487SB7  1.4  1.4s  89+ 141  -6 39 124  80N 101 134  82
26 Mar 29 19 30 56.3 R    1487SB7  1.4  1.4s  89+ 141     47 144 -59N 323 345 303
26 Apr 19 17 12 50.5 D     541SB8  3.9  3.9s   7+  31  10 39 262  21S 139  94 151
26 Apr 19 17 46 17.0 r     541SB8  3.9  3.9s   7+  31   5 34 269 -44S 204 159 216
26 May 20 17  2 46   M    1170dG8  3.6  3.1   21+  54  18 57 228  14N  22 350  13
26 Jun 13 14 44 13.6 r     541SB8  3.9  3.9s   4-  23  43 28 275  45S 223 178 235
26 Sep 14  9 31 19.4 D Venus      -4.7 -4.7   12+  41  38  3 121  83N 111 144  89
26 Sep 14 10 38 50.2 R Venus      -4.7 -4.7   12+  41  42 11 135 -73N 314 342 294
26 Sep 17 15 20 40.1 d    2383cB0  2.8  2.9   39+  77  20 11 167  53S 136 145 128
26 Sep 17 16 30 20.6 r    2383cB0  2.8  2.9   39+  77   9 12 183 -56S 246 244 237
26 Oct 28  1  8 42.8 d     541SB8  3.9  3.9s  95- 154     64 191 -22S 135 127 148
26 Oct 28  1 44 40.2 R     541SB8  3.9  3.9s  95- 154     62 209  36S 194 174 206
26 Dec 21 23 10 28   D     541SB8  3.9  3.9s  93+ 150     56 233  16S 159 125 172
26 Dec 21 23 21 34   r     541SB8  3.9  3.9s  93+ 150     54 237  -3S 178 142 191

Explanations you find here.

Occultations of Planets by the Moon

The Moon regularly occults inner and outer planets. These occultations have no scientific value but show the dynamics of our Solar system impressively.

Upcoming Occultations in Europe in 2022 - 2027