Moon to pass in front (lunar occultation) of the bright star Elnath on January 22

The moon will pass in front of the bright star Elnath (Beta Tauri) on Monday, January 22, 2024, creating a lunar occultation.

A lunar occultation is an astronomical event that occurs when a planet or star disappears behind the moon as seen from the earth.

The lunar occultation of Elnath (Beta Tauri) will be seen in the countries of French Polynesia, Tonga, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Pitcairn.

However, a close conjunction of the moon and Elnath will be visible across the world on January 22, 2024, which means the moon will appear very close to the bright star Elnath (Beta Tauri) in the sky.

The moon will rise in the afternoon of January 21, 2024, and set in the early morning of January 22, 2024, and will be in the waxing gibbous phase.

Observers in the US and Canada will see the moon near Elnath in the early morning of January 22, 2024, and observers in Australia and New Zealand will see the moon near Elnath or occult Elnath in the evening of January 22, 2024.

Elnath is the second brightest star in the zodiac constellation Taurus and overall 27th brightest star in the sky.

As Elnath shines with +1.65 magnitude so the pair will be seen with unaided eye. However for better visibility you can use a pair of binoculars or telescope if you have it.

The time of disappearance and reappearance of Elnath (Beta Tauri) behind the moon on January 22 for each country according to in-the-sky.org is given below:

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