Sunday, June 23, 2024

Bright Moon Occults Ceres (wee hours)

In the early hours of Sunday morning, June 23, the easterly orbital motion of the bright waning, nearly full moon will carry it in front of Ceres, the largest object in the main asteroid belt for observers across eastern North America, the Caribbean, the southern tip of Greenland, and the northwest Azores. The occultation will require good binoculars or a telescope. The times vary by location, so use an app like Starry Night to look up your own circumstances. In New York City, the lit, leading edge of the moon will cover magnitude 7.6 Ceres at 12:29 a.m. EDT. Ceres will emerge from the behind the dark limb of the moon near the big crater Langrenus at 1:48 a.m. EDT. Start to watch a few minutes ahead of each event.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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