Astronomy enthusiasts are preparing to witness a unique celestial event this Sunday evening, known as the “occultation” phenomenon.
Dr. Ashraf Tadros, professor of astronomy at the National Institute for Astronomical Research in Egypt, explained in a post on Facebook that the moon will be associated with the star Leo Heart at sunset, and the star will pass behind the moon between 9:00 and 10:30 pm Cairo time. Tadros pointed out that this phenomenon, which can be seen with the naked eye, requires a sky free of clouds.
For his part, Engineer Majid Abu Zahra, President of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah, stated that the skies of some regions of the Arab world will witness an amazing astronomical show on Sunday evening. The phenomenon of occultation occurs when the moon crosses in front of a star, temporarily blocking its light. He added that the moon will pass in front of the star Leo Heart, which is the brightest star in the constellation Leo, in a scene that combines beauty and scientific accuracy.
He stated that the moon will be in its increasing gibbous phase, which will make it brighter, and the star Leo Heart will appear as a bright bright point near it. He pointed out that observation would be ideal at the dark edge of the moon, where the star appears more clearly, while it may be difficult to see it at the bright edge due to the moon’s glare.
Abu Zahra confirmed that what will happen is a real occultation, as the moon will move in front of the star and completely hide it for a certain period.
He said: “In Jeddah, the star will disappear behind the moon at approximately 10:38 pm and reappear at 11:59 pm. In Mecca, the occultation begins at 10:39 pm and ends at midnight. In Medina, the phenomenon begins at 10:33 pm and ends at 11:54 pm. In Riyadh, the occultation begins at 10:46 pm and ends at 12:01 am. In Tabuk, the phenomenon begins at 10:20 pm and ends at 11:42 pm.” Abu Zahra added that these differences in timing result from differences in geographical location and the height of the moon.
He continued: The moment the star disappears suddenly occurs when it passes behind the dark edge of the moon, and then the star appears again from behind the bright edge. He pointed out that the terrain of the moon’s surface may affect the moment of appearance or disappearance, which may cause slight differences in seconds.
The chief astronomer in Jeddah confirmed that this event is a rare opportunity to witness the occultation of a bright star like Lionheart. It gives amateur astronomers and scientists an opportunity to study the movement of the moon and celestial bodies accurately, and occultation can be used to study the size and shape of nearby objects.
He concluded his speech by pointing out that the phenomenon can be observed with the naked eye if the sky is clear, and that using small binoculars or a simple telescope will provide a clearer viewing experience. He advised starting monitoring several minutes before the expected time, and the possibility of documenting the event with photography. (Arabic)
