Moon to occult Saturn: These Indian cities will see the rare celestial event
Moon is set to come close to the Solar System's biggest planet, Saturn, in a rare celestial event in the night sky. The astronomical event involves the Moon occulting the planet Saturn in the early morning hours.
A planetary occultation occurs when one celestial body passes in front of another, blocking it from view. In the context of planets, this typically involves a planet passing in front of a distant star or another planet, temporarily obscuring it.
As the Moon passes in front of Saturn, it will temporarily hide it from view in what is being pegged captivating sight for astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers alike.
On July 25, 2024, sky watchers and astronomy enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness a rare celestial event as the Moon occults the planet Saturn in the early morning hours.
Occultations provide valuable opportunities for astronomers to study various aspects of both the occulting body (the Moon) and the occulted object (Saturn). These events can help refine our understanding of lunar topography and Saturn's atmospheric composition.
The occultation will begin at 1:03 am and will last till 2:56 am.
WHICH INDIAN CITIES CAN WITNESS THE EVENT?
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore has announced that this event will be visible from southern and eastern parts of India, weather permitting.
While it will be visible in Bangalore from 1:03 am, the event will commence in Mumbai at 1:26 am. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, it will occur between 1:38 am and 2:46 am. In Guwahati, experts predict the event will begin at 1:50 am.
The occultation is expected to last just over an hour.
The exact timing will vary depending on the specific location within the visibility zone. Interested viewers are advised to check local astronomical resources for precise timings in their area.
HOW TO WATCH IT?
To observe this event, a small telescope or a pair of binoculars will be helpful, although Saturn may be visible to the naked eye as a bright star-like object near the Moon before and after the occultation.
As Saturn disappears behind the Moon's dark limb, it will create a dramatic visual effect.
This occultation is part of a series of lunar occultations of planets occurring in 2024, making it an exciting year for astronomical observations.
