Moon ‘Occultation’ Highlights: Scary Pre-Halloween Treat Visible Across the US

A moon "occultation" will bring a spooky pre-Halloween treat across the continental US on the night of October 19th/20th. The moon will dance with a star as it passes in front of Aldebaran, one of the brightest and most awesome stars in the sky.

A detailed report was published in the pages of the International Occultation Timing Association regarding the event. The group described lunar occultations as natural phenomena where a star vanishes behind the moon. It will reappear an hour later. Lunar occultations can also be total or grazing.

The organization further revealed when the phenomenon will occur. It said that in the greater Los Angeles area, the grazing will be on Tuesday evening, October 19 from 10:25 to 10:29 pm PDT. The orange Aldebaran star will appear to move closer to the moon from its sunlit side. It may be difficult to view with a binoculars a few minutes before the phenomenon happens but it will become easier as the star moves into the moon's dark side.  Other areas in North America will be seeing the same view but will occur later for those located northeast of LA.   

This wonderful event will be seen not just in the US but also across Mexico, the Caribbean and parts of Canada. NPR further described the Aldebaran star as the "bull's fiery eye in the Taurus constellation." The star will graze the upper edge of the moon and will disappear and reappear numerous times as the hills and valleys of the moon hide and expose it.

Aldebaran has a prominent color but sometimes it could be hard to spot. Covering the bright moon with a finger may help spot the star. Aldebaran is also huge as it is very dramatic. According to a report, if placed where the sun is located now, its size would extend to Mercury's orbit. It is more than 150 times brighter than the sun as well.

The moon's occultations of Aldebaran are natural events that happen every lunar month in a series. This phenomenon began January 2015 and will end in September 2018. Aldebaran will dance with the moon again in 2033.