![]() ![]() That means that sometimes only a part of the star at a time will covered at a time in some cases, so the length of the flashes will vary. An orange giant 67 light years from Earth, it's 44 times the diameter of the Sun. Observers along the western section of the graze line, where the event takes place in fairly dark sky, can watch the star blink in and out of view without optical aid when it reaches the dark part of the lunar disk. As Aldebaran creeps along the craggy limb, it will repeatedly flash in and out of view as peaks and cliffs momentarily block it from sight. The edge or limb of the Moon appears smooth to the eye, but it's rife with polar mountain peaks. ![]() You'll need binoculars or a small telescope to see the initial approach, but once star reaches the semi-dark, earthlit portion of the Moon, the graze will be visible with the naked eye. As the Moon's orbital motion carries it eastward at the rate of one lunar diameter per hour, Aldebaran will appear to approach the sunlit northern cusp and then scrape along the Moon's northern limb. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |