The 97% illuminated waning gibbous Moon will occult stars of the Pleiades (M45) cluster for observers in the Americas during the night of 2009 NOV 03/04.  Immersions will occur on the lunar bright limb and emersions on the dark limb.  Folks located on a graze path will witness a star winking on and off as lunar hills and valleys pass by.  Those between graze paths will see full occultations.

I’ve created two graphics related to the event.  The first is a graze map for the Americas of the six brightest Pleiads.  The second is a preview of the occultations as seen from Chicago’s Adler Planetarium.  They can be seen by clicking:  http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical

Photos and descriptions of the event would be welcome additions to this thread.

Excellent information, Centaur.

Clear Skies   --- Silveradogold

Thank you for your kind words, Silveradogold.  For those in California like you, it may appear from my graze map of the six brightest Pleiads that you are shut out from this event.  But three of the Pleiades lesser lights will be occulted for Californians.

Below is a graze map similar to the one on my website, but with 21 Pleiads rather than just the 6 brightest.  I did not add the star name labels due to the potential for clutter.  But if anyone notices a graze path passing near his home, please let me know if more precise graze path information is desired and for what area.  I can also provide occultation timings for those between graze paths, if longitude, latitude and altitude are included in a reply.

I saw the moon the other morning around 6am.  I hadn't seen it in so long.  It was low in the horizon and it was so dark but I could see the edge was lit like a thin crescent.  It was close to where the sun rises but the sun hadn't risen yet because it was still dark.  I wished I had my camera then.  It was so beautiful.

maryccc:

I saw the moon the other morning around 6am.  I hadn't seen it in so long.  It was low in the horizon and it was so dark but I could see the edge was lit like a thin crescent.  It was close to where the sun rises but the sun hadn't risen yet because it was still dark.  I wished I had my camera then.  It was so beautiful.

Thank you for sharing that nice description of the beauty of the Moon, Mary.  It reminds those who haven’t observed it for awhile to go out and take a look.