Sep 17 Lunar Occultation of Saturn

Early on the morning of Tuesday, Sep 17, the moon will cover Saturn.  It’s early in the morning and very low to the horizon, but it’s really something to see or photograph. The low altitude will be a weather challenge, but both the Moon and Saturn are bright.  We don’t often get to see this, so it’s worth losing a little sleep over it, at least to me.  I’ll be out at my favorite sunset spot if you’re interested.

Base Data:

• Moon will be setting in the west at 6 degrees above the horizon with Saturn above it.
• The Sun will be -15 degrees in the east (astronomical twilight) 
• Saturn will be about 11 o’clock on the Moon.
• The occultation will complete before moonset at 6:52, with sunrise at 7:32. https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/lubbock 

Here’s a 1 degree FOV of the start:

Here’s the IOTA chart of times for the Disappearances for surrounding cities: 
http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/planets/0917saturn.htm

Here’s a quick map of the sky just before the event.  30 degree FOV:

Here’s the IOTA map of the path:
http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/planets/0917saturn.htm 

• Cyan = Moonrise or Moon set
• Blue = twilight
• White = night