On Saturday 14th of April for a brief period Mars will be right
behind the Moon as seen from most of the India.

The event is technically called Occultations. It is exactly like
the Solar Eclipse (partial, annular or total) when the Moon (or some
other astronomical body) comes between the observer and an object far
away.

The Occultation would take place (for Pune) at 5:55 a.m. that is Mars
disappears behind the Moon. The event takes place at the bright limb.
At that time the planet would be about 27 degree above the horizon.

The Sun would rise at 6:19 a.m.

Mars reappears from behind the Moon at 6:23 a.m. Mars can be seen at
the darker limb of the Moon at the Moon continues its eastwards march
on the celestial sphere much faster than Mars. But of course the
rotation of the Earth would make both it's satellite and the planet
move westwards compared to the observer.

How to observer the event
The Disappearance
The even takes place before the sunrise and therefore it should
present no difficulty in locating the Moon. The new moon is on April
17th and on 14th we will see thin crescent of the Moon. Start your
observations at about 5:40 itself. Look for Mars right below bright
lunar crescent. Mars will be at the northern or left end of the limb.

The event should be visible to the naked eyes. But any simple pair of
binoculars would be most useful to observe the event.

The Reappearance
This will be a bit difficult to observe. You will certainly need an
optical instrument to see this. When the moon is close to its new
moon phase one can see the darker limb of the Moon too.

At 6:23 Mars will come out from behind the Moon.


Tell us
If you are likely to observe the event it would be interesting to know

a. If you could see the disappearance with the naked eyes.
b. If you could see the reappearance with the naked eyes.
c. If you could see the reappearance using an optical instrument
(binocular or telescope).



This is just advance information – more to follow closer to the event.


The event at glace

April 14, 2007

5:55 a.m. Mars disappears behind the Moon
6:19 a.m. The sun rises
6:23 a.m. Mars reappears