Post by Sowelu on Mar 31, 2006 11:13:07 GMT -5
DON'T MISS THIS: A couple of days ago, people were excited when the Moon eclipsed the sun, a single star. That's nothing. On Saturday, April 1st, the Moon is going to eclipse an entire star cluster--the Pleiades.
The eclipse (or "occultation") will be visible from eastern and central parts of North America. Start looking as soon as the sun sets. The slender crescent moon will pop out of the western twilight next to or among the stars of the Pleiades: sky map.
The event lasts nearly three hours from about 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm EST. During that time the Moon will move through the cluster, hiding one star after another, and revealing them again in due course. For the best view, use binoculars or a small telescope.
Of particular interest is a set of "grazing occultations" visible from Washington, DC; Birmingham, Alabama; Statesboro, Georgia; and Hilton Head island, South Carolina. Sky watchers there can see stars grazing the lunar limb, blinking in and out among the mountains of the moon--beautiful! [details] [movie]
spaceweather.com/
