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:
Occultation prediction for Frankfurt, Germany
E. Longitude 8 39 0.0, Latitude 50 8 30.0, Alt. 0m; Telescope dia 15cm; dMag 0.0
No messages for: Name, Doubles & K2 stars, Variables, Limb-nearby, Durations, Graze nearby
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
21 Mar 5 4 43 25.3 d 2307 B1 3.9* 4.0 60- 101 19 181 -68N 79 79 70
21 Mar 5 5 47 22.3 R 2307 B1 3.9* 4.0 59- 101 -3 18 196 49N 322 311 313
21 Apr 4 6 4 22.6 D 2750SB2 2.1* 2.1 52- 92 10 13 188 -82N 77 71 84
21 Apr 4 7 19 45.4 R 2750SB2 2.1* 2.1 52- 92 22 10 205 81N 274 256 281
21 Apr 18 14 45 58.3 D 1030WA3 3.1 2.3s 34+ 71 33 59 134 89S 94 125 89
21 Apr 18 16 9 3.7 R 1030WA3 3.1 2.3s 34+ 72 21 65 173 -77S 261 266 255
21 Apr 19 18 15 38.3 D 1170dG8 3.6 3.1 45+ 84 1 62 209 88N 97 78 86
21 Apr 19 19 34 29.2 R 1170dG8 3.6 3.1 45+ 84 -11 53 238 -82N 288 251 277
21 Apr 30 1 59 21.6 d 2500cB2 3.3* 3.4v 87- 138 15 176 -76N 82 85 80
21 Apr 30 3 8 43.4 R 2500cB2 3.3* 3.4v 87- 138 -8 14 192 65N 301 292 299
21 May 15 22 39 59.1 D 1030WA3 3.1 2.3s 15+ 45 1 309 21N 23 350 18
21 May 19 16 43 16.2 D 1484cA0 3.5 3.5s 49+ 89 21 55 155 53N 74 91 53
21 May 19 17 40 58.2 r 1484cA0 3.5 3.5s 49+ 89 12 57 179 -42N 339 340 318
21 May 28 22 35 7.0 R 2750SB2 2.1* 2.1 91- 145 2 137 31N 329 358 336
21 Jun 23 23 27 26.3 D 2500cB2 3.3* 3.4v 99+ 169 14 191 74N 68 60 65
21 Jun 24 0 28 35.6 r 2500cB2 3.3* 3.4v 99+ 169 11 205 -43N 310 293 308
21 Sep 2 0 3 49.0 d 1030WA3 3.1 2.3s 25- 60 7 59 -86S 100 137 94
21 Sep 2 0 56 21.1 R 1030WA3 3.1 2.3s 25- 59 15 68 62S 248 289 242
21 Sep 3 2 39 52.1 D 1170dG8 3.6 3.1 16- 47 21 77 -71S 122 166 111
21 Sep 3 3 32 17.4 R 1170dG8 3.6 3.1 16- 47 -12 30 87 44S 237 282 226
21 Oct 3 3 38 11.2 D 1484cA0 3.5 3.5s 13- 42 21 89 -39N 65 107 44
21 Oct 3 4 25 9.3 R 1484cA0 3.5 3.5s 13- 42 -11 29 98 56N 330 12 309
21 Oct 8 15 25 16.3 D 2118SA3 2.8 2.7s 7+ 30 12 17 215 26S 170 147 154
21 Oct 8 16 4 13.6 r 2118SA3 2.8 2.7s 7+ 30 6 13 224 -43S 239 212 224
21 Dec 24 4 49 35.0 D 1484cA0 3.5 3.5s 78- 124 52 216 -28N 45 22 24
21 Dec 24 5 9 3.9 R 1484cA0 3.5 3.5s 78- 124 50 223 2N 15 348 354
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 2018 - 2023
