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Titania from Voyager 2

Occultations

Watch Uranus's Moon Titania Cover a Star Monday Night

Observers across much of the U.S. and Canada have a unique opportunity Monday night, November 20–21, to see Uranus's brightest moon occult a star.

Comet Nishimura C/2023 P1

Comets

New Comet Nishimura May Become Naked-Eye Bright

Comet Nishimura is quickly brightening in the morning sky and may be faintly visible with the naked eye next month. And on August 24th observers in North America will be treated to an occultation of Antares.

Titan and Tethys

Explore the Night with Bob King

Titan Occults a Bright Star, Mira Awakens, and Comet PanSTARRS Shines

Pick one or see them all. July offers a potpourri of celestial events for both naked-eye observers and telescope users that include a rare occultation by Saturn's moon Titan, a bright comet, and Mira at maximum.

Two crescents meet

Celestial Objects to Observe

Watch the Moon Pair Up with Venus on June 19th

Two crescents — the Moon and Venus — meet in the sky in the wee hours of June 19th.

Asteroids

Chase a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid As It Flies by Earth

Break out your binoculars or a small telescope, we've got a busy week ahead! Watch as a bright asteroid approaches Earth, the Moon steals a star, and Comet ATLAS's last hurrah.

Mars at the moon's edge

Occultations

Watch the Moon Occult Mars Before Sunrise on February 18th

Occultations of stars by the Moon occur routinely, but planetary lunar occultations are much rarer birds. That's why I hope you'll make the effort Tuesday morning February 18th to watch the waning crescent Moon occult the planet Mars.

Sirius with tiny Sirius B (just above the upper-left diffraction spike).

Explore the Night with Bob King

Will Sirius Disappear on February 18th?

On Monday night, February 18th, observers in the western U.S. and Mexico may see the occultation of a lifetime when a tiny asteroid momentarily blots out the night sky's brightest star.

Celestial News & Events

Venus Occults a Star and Mercury Joins Jupiter on the Winter Solstice

Bring in winter with a bang with a beautiful, close conjunction and a rare planet-star occultation.

Aldebaran Occultation

Occultations

Don't Miss Aldebaran's Last Occultation Till 2033

The last and one of the most picturesque occultations of Aldebaran by the Moon happens on Tuesday morning, July 10. Catch it or wait 15 years for the next!

Celestial Objects to Observe

November Occultations of Aldebaran & Regulus

The Moon occults two 1st-magnitude stars for much of North America just six days apart. The first event happens mostly in early-evening darkness, the second in broad daylight — an extra challenge for the adventurous.

Visibility zones for Two Occultations

Celestial News & Events

See Two Tricky Occultations — Neptune and Lambda (λ) Aqr

Now you see 'em, now you don't. Watch the Moon occult Neptune and nearby Lambda Aquarii on the same night.

Near miss

Celestial News & Events

Moon Hides Hyades, Occults Aldebaran Friday

After a late-night ramble through the Hyades cluster, the waning gibbous Moon will cover up the bright star Aldebaran for observers across North America Friday morning.

Celestial Objects to Observe

Watch Asteroid Juno Occult a Star

Watch an asteroid approach a star and block its light, all in a fraction of a second.

Celestial Objects to Observe

Occultation Web Resources

Occultations of stars and planets by the Moon and asteroids are exciting to watch, and amateur occultation timings can have real scientific value. But first you need to know what occultations will be happening in your area.

Occultations

An Occultation Primer

The Moon frequently passes in front of stars. In rare cases, planets and asteroids will also obscure starlight for a short time. Here are some basic definitions that will help you understand what occultations are about.

Camcorder for occultations

Occultations

Camcorder Timing Tips

Many households now possess a camcorder. Many amateur astronomers may be unaware that these devices are sensitive enough to record occultation events.

Celestial Objects to Observe

Occultations: The Fastest Things in the Sky

Watch in your telescope as the edge of the Moon snaps a star out of sight.

Celestial Objects to Observe

How and Why to Make Occultation Timings

Lunar and planetary occultations may be appreciated for their intrinsic beauty, but in order to contribute scientifically valid data you need to apply certain techniques.

Celestial Objects to Observe

Lunar Occultation Highlights for 2005

No matter where you live in the world, you can see the Moon hide stars and planets in its path. Here's when and where you can watch dozens of these events this year.

Celestial Objects to Observe

The Moon Occults Fiery Antares

Set your alarm clock to watch the last-quarter Moon cross a first-magnitude star on the morning of March 3rd.