Spotting December New Moon as it Occults Mars

[Notrump]

On December 6th some observers will have an opportunity to spot the New Moon while it is little more than a day old at the same time it is occulting Mars. The Dark Moon will be in geocentric longitudinal conjunction with the Sun on 2010 DEC 05 at 17:36 UT (11:36 CST). Mercury will serve as a guide star about 6° to the upper left of the Moon during the evening of the 6th.

I’ve made a graphic previewing the southwestern sky from Chicagoland after sunset on December 6th. It should well serve most North American observers. I’ve also created a North American graze map for the Mars occultation, and specific occultation info for observers at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. They can all be seen by clicking: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical then going to the Moon page.

If you would like Mars occultation or graze data for a specific location, please reply to this post with a longitude, latitude, time zone and elevation above sea level.

Photos and descriptions of the December New Moon and Mars occultation would be welcome additions to this thread. Please include the date, time, time zone and location. Good Luck!

Below is a photo I took from Arlington Heights, Illinois after sunset on 2008 DEC 28 of a 1.5-day-old Moon with Venus at the top and Mercury in the center.

 

[Aquila]

Nice photo.
The moon, Mercury and Mars will also be conjunct Pluto by longitude though we won't be able to see the latter. I notice that you take an interest in astronomy and the financial markets so am wondering if you use astrology for trends. I am interested in astrology from a skeptical point of view, and have debated how it might work (light, magnetism etc) on this forum.

In the Tropical Zodiac, which was invented by Ptolemy to solve the problem of the apparent shifting of the constellations because of precession, the planets mentioned above, and moon will be further on in Sagittarius, and all square Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces. To astrologers this suggests a possible notable world event on this day involving religion - I know that's a bit vague but let's see what happens.

Below is a pic that I took of the recent (September 2010) Venus, Mars, Saturn conjunction in Virgo (constellation), Tropical Libra. They were lined up in a right angle triangle formation.

 

[Notrump]

Thanks, Aquila, for sharing that beautiful photograph. I became an amateur astronomer (egads, not astrologer!) when I was nine years old. Astronomy has remained an enjoyable hobby of mine for over half a century.

I received a degree in business management before becoming a real estate broker and stockbroker. Then I spent many years as the stock market analyst for a daily financial news television program in Chicago. I have since written a book for McGraw-Hill titled The Investor’s Guide to Technical Analysis: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071389989/crinvest-20 . In that book I note that on average the stock market performs best during the cooler portion of the year for those of us in the north temperate zone: roughly October 20 to April 20. But don’t count on that as a sure thing.

Naturally, the annual progression of the seasons is due to the apparent position of the Sun relative to the Earth’s rotational axis. It may be due to seasonal interests and activities as well as tax considerations related to the calendar that this not always reliable annual stock market cycle has some degree of validity. Of course the seasons affect interest in various commodities. Other than seasonal considerations, I know of no other significant astronomical effect on the financial markets.

The Moon as well as the Sun affects ocean tides which in turn affects the feeding and reproductive habits of marine creatures. So I suppose that is of interest to the fishing industry. Of course impacts to the Earth by significantly large asteroids or comets can greatly affect the ecology. Jupiter in particular is good at sweeping up some of those before they strike Earth. But as far as I am aware the gravity, magnetism or reflected light from planets has virtually no significant effect on the Earth or its inhabitants other than the stimulation of astronomical interest.

 

[Notrump]

I might add that during the early years I was appearing on that financial news TV program, our studio was located atop the Chicago Board of Trade Building. Commodities traders were frequent guests on our show, either in the studio or from the trading floor. Of course, I regularly met them on elevators or in the cafeteria. Many of them swore that agricultural commodities markets trends would turn (either way) during the times of a Full Moon or Dark Moon. Some even brought charts to show examples of when these changes occurred. Many farmers, especially in earlier centuries, believed in astrological forecasts involving the Moon and agriculture. Since commodities traders deal closely with farmers, it’s easy to see how such a notion could have spread. It’s my guess that any slight correlation between the Moon’s phases and commodities prices is due to those who can read a Moon phase calendar and place their bets accordingly. In other words, the brief price reversal may be due to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[Orangutan]

Oh, Will I be able to see this From Orlando?

28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W
34m
Eastern.

 

[Notrump]

Orlando Prediction

Oh, Will I be able to see this From Orlando?

28°32′37″N 81°22′22″W
34m
Eastern.

For you the immersion will occur shortly after sunset, but the emersion will not happen until after moonset. The zenith angle is Mars position on the lunar limb measured counterclockwise from the zenith.

Immersion
17:44:21 EST at Zenith Angle 40.8°

 

[Notrump]

It should be noted that it will only be along a quite narrow north-south strip crossing the middle of North America in which the immersion or emersion will occur after sunset but before moonset. Those to the east will be shut out. Those to the west will have to deal with daylight. See my graze map that is linked in the OP.

 

[Notrump]

Chicagoland lies on a very narrow strip of the Earth’s surface for which either the immersion or emersion will occur after sunset and before moonset. Some folks are planning to observe from the Adler Planetarium. I calculate that for them the immersion of the center of Mars into the Moon’s dark limb will occur at 16:31:59 CST, which will be only 12 minutes after sunset. Optical aid will almost certainly be required during bright twilight, despite Mars being at first magnitude. The emersion will occur after moonset.

Please be extra careful, if trying to observe while the Sun is still out.

At the time of the immersion at the Adler Planetarium, here will be Mars’ coordinates.

Equatorial
RA 17:56.5
Dec S 24° 17’

Horizontal (Alt-Azm)
Azm 230.1° (6.1° to the right of southwest)
Alt 5.7° (atmospheric refraction corrected)

Good luck, folks.