Venus will disappear behind the moon for about an hour on 9 November for viewers in a number of components of the world. Here’s what these lunar occultations are and the way and when to observe this one occur.

What’s the lunar occultation of Venus?

On 9 November, the moon will move between Earth and Venus, making the latter disappear behind the moon for about an hour, earlier than it reappears on the opposite facet. This phenomenon, generally known as a lunar occultation of Venus, will likely be seen from most of Europe, the western a part of Russia, in addition to Greenland and a few of northern Africa and western Asia. For everybody else, the 2 our bodies will simply move shut by one another.

What time is it taking place?

In areas the place you’ll be able to see the occultation, it would occur through the daytime, however precisely when will fluctuate relying on the place you might be. In London, it is because of start round 9.45 am, round 10.50 am native time in Paris and round 10.26 am in Tromsø in Norway, for instance. Use software program like Stellarium or web sites like In The Sky to test precisely when the occultation will begin in your location.

The way to see this occasion

The easiest way to view it’s to search out Venus about 20 minutes earlier than the time the occultation will begin. The planet will likely be close to the moon, which will likely be a small crescent, simply 15 per cent illuminated. Venus will likely be slightly below the moon and to the left.

As a result of it’s through the day, it is perhaps simpler to search out Venus utilizing binoculars or a small telescope. However bear in mind, every time utilizing such gadgets within the daytime, ensure to not look wherever close to the solar.

After getting discovered the planet, you’ll be able to watch because it strikes in direction of the moon and, finally, passes behind it. About an hour later, Venus will reappear on the opposite facet of the moon, barely increased within the sky than when it disappeared.

When will the following lunar occultation of Venus occur?

They’re uncommon, and every one is just seen from sure components of the world. It’s because the moon seems in a barely completely different a part of the sky relying on the place you might be on Earth, due to a phenomenon known as parallax.

The subsequent lunar occultation of Venus will likely be in April 2024, mainly seen from components of North America. Will probably be seen once more from Europe in September 2025.

The earliest recorded lunar occultation of Venus was in July 1476, by Abraham Zacuto, a medieval polymath who labored because the astronomer royal for the king of Portugal on the time.