Aug. 4: lunar occultation of Saturn

[deanm (Dean)]

The best one this year: catch it!

Dean

[AstralTraveller (David)]

If you find the moon too bright do not use a filter to dim it - you won't see Saturn. How do I know?

[johnnyjetski (John)]

Saturn was very difficult to see last time, only showed up on a couple of images I took in a last minute attempt, as I had given up looking for it, but this time will be much better I think.

John

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

If you find the moon too bright do not use a filter to dim it - you won't see Saturn. How do I know?

oops!

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

It will be more exciting seeing Saturn disappear behind the dark limb. Looking forward to having a clear sky?!

[Vermin (Tom)]

We miss out on the occultation in Hobart. Nice conjuction though.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

oops!

Not quite what I said. My wife was at the other scope saying how great the re-appearance looked while I was scanning the limb wondering what the ...was happening.

[OzStarGazer]

Not in front of my balcony or visible from the beach... I know where I could go to see it but it is not the best place to be at about 10pm all on my own with a telescope... We will see what happens...

[mikerr (Michael)]

Running a simulation on Stellarium, this seems start about 2100. Is that correct?

Michael

[deanm (Dean)]

Ian Musgrave has the details:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articl...29/3932747.htm

Dean

[mikerr (Michael)]

Thanks Dean

Michael.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by mikerr

Running a simulation on Stellarium, this seems start about 2100. Is that correct?

Michael

Michael, you are close enough to me that my figures should be OK. They come from a simulation in Cartes du Ciel.

Titan disappears behind the dark limb at about 21:17. Saturn's rings start to disappear at 21:21 and the last of the rings at 21:23. The last of the moons are gone about a minute later.

Emergence starts on the bright limb at about 22:13 with Titan and the first bit of rings appearing at almost the same time. The closest large crater you could use as a target appears to be Janssen. The last of the moons are back by about 22:18.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

For Brisbane observers here are the exact timings (attached).

Check out the superb and free Lunar Occultation Workbench from the Dutch Occultation Association: http://www.doa-site.nl/ if you are interested in watching more objects disappear behind the dark side of the moon!

[JJDOBBER79 (Jas)]

Bummer about the filter David. Hey, that's got me thinking. Do others plan to use a filter? If so, which one?. I'm wondering if a blue or green filter will darken the moon slightly and still allow views of Saturn. I have 12 inches of aperture. The moon blinds me

[doppler (Rick)]

I think good tracking and high magnification should keep the moons brightness at a reasonable level. At least it is only a quarter moon this time.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by doppler

I think good tacking and high magnification should keep the moons brightness at a reasonable level. At least it is only a quarter moon this time.

here's a vid of the last one at high magnification during the ingress

https://www.flickr.com/photos/80336656@N07/14241997333/

next time i'd have less moon in the frame ....

[kkara4 (Krishan)]

hopefully its not cloudy again like the last occultation in May, but not looking promising for BNE

[mikerr (Michael)]

Andrew, please don't think me rude, I only just saw the extra details you provided for me. Thanks very much

Skippy Sky is looking pretty good for tonight so far.

Michael.

[kkara4 (Krishan)]

brisbane cloud cover near 100% atm where I am . forecast to clear a bit though, fingers and telescope legs crossed!

[alphamone]

Weather here in Canberra is fine albeit cold (and some atmospheric distortion).

Gonna try saving my video footage to the hard drive rather than doing a direct upload stream to YouTube like I did last time. It showed up ok, it just lowered the image quality of my already low end scope camera more apparent. Though I will do a test on Saturn alone before the actual occultation. I just hope that my settings are still saved, it took way too much fiddling around to get all the various settings just right.