Rare Phenomenon, The Planet Mars Is Closed By The Moon Tonight

Itera Campus will start observation at 20.30.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDAR LAMPUNG – Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) Astronomy Observatory Itera Lampung (OAIL) will conduct observations of rare astronomical phenomena. This phenomenon is the occultation (closure) of the Planet Mars by the moon, when viewed from Earth. Observations were made on Saturday (17/4) at 20.30 WIB.

Head UPT OAIL Judge L. Malasan said, a phenomenon occult Mars by moon can be observed from western Southeast Asia and eastern part of South Asia only. When viewed from Lampung Province, Mars will be covered by the moon starting at 20.30 when the Moon is at an altitude of 17.7 degrees.

“Mars will be visible again at 21.30 when the moon is about 4.4 degrees high. When this phenomenon occurs, the moon will be in a crescent phase, and the moon’s illumination is 24 percent, ”said Hakim in a press statement received on Saturday (17/4).

He said the next Mars occultation event could only be observed in Indonesia in 2025 at noon, and in 2034 only in eastern Papua. Meanwhile, on May 27, 2022 we will be again presented with the phenomenon of the occultation of Venus by the moon, which can be observed from Indonesia.

In terms of field observations, UPT OAIL will carry out observations centered on the Rooftop of the Technical Laboratory Building 2 of the Sumatra Institute of Technology (Itera) using a Schmidt-Cassegrain type telescope, namely Meade LX-90 8 ”- ACF (f = 2032 mm, d = 203 , 2mm. F / 10) with a Canon 5D mark IV DSLR camera.

UPT OAIL this time does not open up observations for the general public to prevent transmission of this outbreak. Nevertheless, UPT OAIL is streaming the observation conditions through the UPT OAIL YouTube channel: https://tinyurl.com/youtube-oail, and also via social media instagram: @oail.itera.

The following is a schedule for the appearance of this phenomenon in some regions:
1. Padang
Initial occultation: 20.03.04 WIB
End of the occultation: 21.30.14 WIB

2. Jakarta
Initial occultation: 20:32.49 WIB
End of the occultation: 21.29.29 WIB

3. Bandung
Initial occultation: 20.33.56 WIB
End of the occultation: 21.29.01 WIB

4. Yogyakarta
Initial occultation: 20:34.50 WIB
End of the occultation: 21.29.39 WIB (under the horizon)

5. Denpasar
Awal occultasi: 21.34.54 WITA
Akhir occult: 22.30.48 WITA

6. Mataram
Awal occultasi: 21.34.38 WITA
Akhir occult: 22.31.07 WITA

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