20070303 - Eclipse planning

On 03 March 2007, Moon will be in eclipse as it rises at 5:43pm. I'll be at Carl Schurz Park around the 86th St. entrance. I'm sure they will be many others. Eyes, binoculars, and telescopes should be plentiful. Ideally, the weather will be on its best to let us enjoy the show.

img credit: snip from larger illustration NASA's Eclipse Page managed by Fred Espenak

This eclipse is unusual because the Moon itself eclipses, or occults, this bright star during totality. 59 Leonis is magnitude 4.98, a challenge for the urban observer. This occultation will most likely require optics to observe the actual moments of ingress and egress. Perhaps a test for the eagle eye.

The following Eclipse time table & illustrations were prepared and distributed by John Pazmino.
Thanks, John!

EST	event	alt-az	remarks
17:43	moonrise	00 81	before sunset on March 3rd
17:44	totality begins	01 81	right after moonrise
17:48	sunset	02 82	moon in totality
18:21	mid totality	06 87
18:34	59 Leo ingress	15 95	2:00 o'clock on limb
18:48	nautical twilight	11 90	full night for NYC
18:57	totality end	13 92
19:11	59 Leo egress	15 95	2:00 o'clock on limb
20:12	partl phase ends	26 105	umbra leaves Moon
20:32	paenumbra leaves	29 110	~20 min after umbra
00:17	Moon transit	55 180	on March 4th

Illustration shows location of 59 Leonis a few minutes prior to ingress of occultation.
Illustration shows location of 59 Leonis a few minutes past egress from occultation. Typically this is a challange when stars emerge from the bright limb of Moon but under this circumstance, a chance to see the star "blink" on should improve considerably.