Lunar occultation of the Pleiades Jan10.1

[Tim Haymes]

The Moon will occult M45 tonight starting with 23 Tau (Merope) at about 0200 UT (0202 at Greenwich). It is double star HL15. This is followed 40 min later by Alcyone. See predictions in the Handbook. There are a number of 7th and 8th magnitude stars in the cluster. So quite a lot going on and many of the cluster members are double or multiple stars. Watch closely for fade and step events. Hope the weather cooperates.

Attached are prediction files for London and Edinburgh, down to magnitude 8. The Handbook limit is 6.0
The listed events are disappearances at the dark limb (DD). Bright limb events are excluded. The brighter ones are in the Handbook.

Enjoy…

Attachments:

1. Edinburgh-M45.txt
2. London-M45.txt

[Alex Pratt]

Thanks Tim,

I hope to record some of the events as long as I and my observatory don’t seize up. The garden is sheet ice and snow compacted into concrete. Every time I unjam the door it freezes up again, the roll-off roof is in a similar state – and my dew shield has decided to fall apart.

What could go wrong…? 🙂

Alex.

[Tim Haymes]

Take care Alex on the garden ice rink. I have some over-shoe crampons. Last used in the Alps!
Best of luck. Its gonna be cold.
Tim

[Alex Pratt]

Hi Tim,

I have similar from my Alpine jaunts, just don’t wear them in the observatory to avoid perforating the cushion floor. I don’t think I’ll need the ice axe, unless it’s to prise open the door.

This cold air brings lower humidity, 80%+ instead of 90%+. Windchill from the breeze though. 🙁

Alex.

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