Starship Asterisk*

The Bull's Eye and the Young Moon

Explanation: Aldebaran, eye of Taurus the Bull, and a young crescent Moon shared an early evening sky last Friday. The lovely celestial pairing could be enjoyed around planet Earth, but from some locations the Moon was even seen to pass in front of Aldebaran, a dramatic lunar occultation of the familiar bright star. Taken at nightfall on April 28, this skyscape captures Aldebaran shortly after it emerged from behind the bright lunar limb. In the foreground are craggy peaks of the Dolomite mountains near Laggio di Cadore, Italy. Before reappearing beyond the sunlit crescent, Aldebaran first winked out behind the Moon's ashen glow, the lunar nightside faintly illuminated by earthshine.

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Lovely APOD.

My last Friday's evening was too soon for the Moon's conjunction with Aldebaran and my Saturday's too late, but I was out in the backyard on the latter, to watch the ISS pass between the two in my sky. My two boys were out with me. The elder, 9, was quite impressed with the scene. The younger, 7, said "It's just a star. That's boring". So, I bought the 9 year old a nice little pair of binoculars. And the 7 year old got naught.

I managed to catch an image of the event, in a 4 second exposure, but I botched the camera settings and didn't judge the fast darkening sky very well, so it is all a bit dim. If you look closely, you can also (just) see Mars poking through the palm leaves, below Aldebaran.

I agree with Nitpicker, it's a lovely APOD.

And Giorgia, if you don't mind my saying so, it's very good to see a woman getting her APOD now and then. There are so many wonderful male astrophotographers producing gorgeous images of space, but it's so nice to see a woman here, too!

Thanks for your contribution too, Nit!

Ann

Great shot.... sort of ..."behind the 8 ball...."

In the Asterisk Cafe, look up... My latest Images of Jupiter and The Moon from Wednesday night...took those from the driveway in the mobile home park.

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That is quite a beautiful shot.

An interesting historical video posted by neufer, too.

I have no idea how I forgot to observe this event. There was No occultation for my area, just a very close together as in the picture as the moon sets
Anyway I will like to share a video I took of a daylight reappearance after occultation