The Occultation of Jupiter By the Moon: Feb. 18, 2013.
There doesn't seem to be a thread on this yet (?) and seeing as it's just around the corner, thought I'd better hurry and get this up.
Wow, we have so much going on in the sky right now between comets, asteroids and occultations, what a busy month!
A spectacular occultation of Jupiter by the 8 day old gibbous moon. As the moon's dark limb moves towards them, the planet & moons will disappear & re-appear from the bright limb.
my Astronomy 2013 book tells us that this event is sure to generate UFO reports. I've never seen one before and won't this time either because I'm not down south enough. That's the event I've never seen, not the UFO.
If you've got the IceInSpace 2013 calender, there is a gorgeous pic of the occultation in 2005 taken by Dennis Simmons for February.
I've found a link of the pic here, it's just spectacular!
Ocultation to start 11.32 pm Melb time. Forecast is mostly clear, so I'll be set up and hoping.
But then again it is Melbourne, so if it's going to be cloudy anywhere - it will be Melb.
Thanks Suzy , I knew it was happening but I like Steffan are a little to far north and watch the close conjunction instead , a shame as I have only seen one of these as well .
The dissaparences of jupiters moons happen so fast , as if someone has hit a switch , if you blink you will miss it .
Brian.
Ocultation is due to start in Melb 1232 hrs UT, which is 2332 hrs local time (+10 + 1 hour DS). That would make is very low in the west and reappearance actually below the horizon at 0010, after moon set at 0002 hrs.
Just double checked it with Stellarium. Wound Stellarium forward to 18/2 and it is showing ocultation starting at @2110 local time with reappearance after 0020 below the horizon.
Either way, its going to be difficult to see, let alone record.
dissapointing.
Russell don't jinx it lol - Ill be at the top of Olivers Hlll
You must live around the corner from me, just checked out Olivers hill. Greg Walton and Alex Cherney will be there. I was going but way too much smoke at the moment....
You must live around the corner from me, just checked out Olivers hill. Greg Walton and Alex Cherney will be there. I was going but way too much smoke at the moment....
Yeah i got a txt from Greg and going to meet them there, will see how it is hopefull it will be gone by 11pm
Ocultation is due to start in Melb 1232 hrs UT, which is 2332 hrs local time (+10 + 1 hour DS). That would make is very low in the west and reappearance actually below the horizon at 0010, after moon set at 0002 hrs.
Just double checked it with Stellarium. Wound Stellarium forward to 18/2 and it is showing ocultation starting at @2110 local time with reappearance after 0020 below the horizon.
Either way, its going to be difficult to see, let alone record.
dissapointing.
Clear skies
Rod
I think there's some bad info there Rod. The first times you quote are right but 12:10am is before moonset tonight. Should be 5 degrees altitude. Stellarium is way off.
Might all be academic anyway, depending how fast the incoming cloud bands move. Hoping for the best!
Tonights occultation of the moon by cloud.
handheld, camera on auto.
I hope someone gets to see the real thing.
This is awful. Just took a look outside and I can't see any clear patches at all . Clear skies the last few nights, whyyy couldn't it have just lasted one more day?!
my Astronomy 2013 book tells us that this event is sure to generate UFO reports. 
I've never seen one before and won't this time either because I'm not down south enough. 
That's the event I've never seen, not the UFO.
Thanks Suzy , I knew it was happening but I like Steffan are a little to far north and watch the close conjunction instead , a shame as I have only seen one of these as well . 
