Skywatchers Look Up!

Here in the D.R. next week we will be one of the few areas on the planet priveleged to see our moon occulting a very close by and stunningly bright planet Mars.

The moon will pass in front of Mars early in the morning of Thursday, July 17th, starting around 3:55AM-4:00AM local time depending on where you are on the island, and exit from behind the moon's disk in twilight at 5:25AM-5:30AM. Mars will enter behind the moon top and left, and leave bottom right.

Watch as it disappears and you will notice it'll take about two minutes for Mars to slowly "wink out" as it'll take that long for the planet's entire disk to move behind the moon as seen from here. If you've got a telescope or binocluars even it should be quite a sight.

Here's a link with more information for those interested:

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/moon_mars_030711.html#eclipse

Which beach doesn't matter so much as whether there is wine on the beach.

En vino veritas.
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditiones habes!

Hey x_man wave at Kuala Lumpur as you fly by. Lived there for awhile, and really love that part of the world. Haven't been to Bangkok though in 18 years or so.

Sorry you didn't get a GC PM. She must not have liked you as much. She may be back, but Robert banned GC this afternoon.

Too bad. So sad.

Tonight's the night ...

So far looks good here in Cabarete. Only a few clouds!

For Anyone That Missed It ...

Here's a link to some photos:

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_moon_030717.html

We couldn't see it here. Started raining 2 minuted before the event.