Moon occults Pleiades tonight 2:25am to 5am MDT 8-14 Tonight, the Moon drives on deep into the Pleaides' center. Begins 2:25am MDT with occulation of 17 Tau Electra on the bright limb side. Moon alt 23 az 76. Alcyone (eta Tau) is eclipsed on the bright limb at approx. 3:10am. Alcyone (eta Tau) egresses on the dark limb at approx. 4:10am below Mare Crisium on the west side (eastern lunar) limb. Ends with egress of Pleione (Tau 28) at approx. 5:05am. Moon alt 53 degs az 104. Graze map by Rentz: www.curtrenz.com/1024l.hml Occultations egresses can be used to see very close binaries (via changes in brightness) that ordinarily are below the diffraction limit of your telescope, e.g 0.1" to 0.5". E.g. Electra 17 Tauri 0.2" egress at 2:53MDT. The major ingresses and egresses for this observing opportunity (with UT times) are: Occultation prediction for SaltLakeCity UT from Occult 4 E. Longitude -111 53 24.0, Latitude 40 45 24.0, Alt. 1337m; Telescope dia 15cm; dMag 0.0 day Time P Star Sp Mag Mag y m d h m s No D v r V Ingress 09 Aug 14 8 26 0 D 537SB6 3.7 3.8S R537 = Electra = 17 Tauri 537 is triple: 3.9 7.0 0.005" 350.0 : 3.9 7.5 0.20" 117.0 537 = NSV 15755, 3.70V 09 Aug 14 8 38 58 d 545 B6 4.1 4.2v R545 = Merope = 23 Tauri 545 = V0971 Tau, 4.18 Egress 09 Aug 14 8 53 44 R 537SB6 3.7 3.8S R537 = Electra = 17 Tauri 537 is triple: 3.9 7.0 0.005" 350.0 : 3.9 7.5 0.20" 117.0 537 = NSV 15755, 3.70V 09 Aug 14 9 12 36 D 552SB7 2.9 2.9S R552 = Alcyone = eta Tauri 552 is multiple: 3.0 4.6 0.031" 207.1 : AB 1.6 0.031" 207.1 : AB 2.9 6.3 117" 290.1 : AC 2.9 8.3 181" 312.0 552 = NSV 15775, 2.87V, Type VAR: 09 Aug 14 9 39 33 R 545 B6 4.1 4.2v R545 = Merope = 23 Tauri 545 = V0971 Tau, 4.18 Ingress 09 Aug 14 9 57 49 d 561cB7 5.1 5.1V R561 = Pleione = 28 BU Tauri 561 is double: AB 5.1 0.20" 313.2 561 = BU Tau, 4.77 to 5.50V, Type GCAS 09 Aug 14 9 58 1 D 560cB8 3.6 3.7s R560 = Atlas = 27 Tauri 560 is double: Aa1,2 3.8 6.8 0.009" 179.1 560 = NSV 01345, 3.60 to 3.65V Egress 09 Aug 14 10 12 48 R 549SA0 6.3 6.3 R549 = 24 Tauri 549 is multiple: AB 109.9 : AB 7.1 8.2 0.001" 205.0 : BD 6.3 8.7 74" 306.3 : BC 6.3 8.3 85" 345.2 09 Aug 14 10 16 14 R 552SB7 2.9 2.9S R552 = Alcyone = eta Tauri 552 is multiple: 3.0 4.6 0.031" 207.1 : AB 1.6 0.031" 207.1 : AB 2.9 6.3 117" 290.1 : AC 2.9 8.3 181" 312.0 552 = NSV 15775, 2.87V, Type VAR: 09 Aug 14 10 54 51 R 560cB8 3.6 3.7s R560 = Atlas = 27 Tauri 560 is double: Aa1,2 3.8 6.8 0.009" 179.1 560 = NSV 01345, 3.60 to 3.65V 09 Aug 14 11 3 53 R 561cB7 5.1 5.1V R561 = Pleione = 28 BU Tauri 561 is double: AB 5.1 0.20" 313.2 561 = BU Tau, 4.77 to 5.50V, Type GCAS Clear Skies - Kurt