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Rare Daytime Viewing of the Occultation of Venus by the Moon, Tuesday, July 17

Special Telescope Viewings Offered at Chabot Space & Science Center

10 July 2001 – OAKLAND, CA: Oakland's Chabot Space & Science Center will offer free daylight telescopic viewing of a rare astronomical event: The occultation of the planet Venus by the moon visible in the morning sky on Tuesday, July 17. Beginning at 9:30 am, Chabot's 8-inch refractor telescope will be turned on Venus and the moon as the moon slowly approaches Venus. The occultation itself will occur precisely at 10:09:07 am PDT. 

"This occultation of Venus by the Moon can also be viewed with binoculars and even with the naked-eye if the sky is very clear," says Chabot Director of Astronomy, Jose Olivarez. "Also, viewing this occultation of Venus is inherently safe since the Sun is not involved." The event will be visible (weather permitting) in all the 49 out of 50 state (with Alaska being the lone exception). Venus' disappearance and the even more suspenseful reappearance from behind the Moon will transpire rather quickly (each about 25 seconds in duration for Bay Area watchers.)

Below are the Timings and local circumstances for this rare daylight occultation of the planet Venus. 

July 17 Lunar Occultation of Venus - Bay Area Circumstances

Moon's illumination: 13% waning
Elongation from Sun: 42 degrees

Chabot Space & Science Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland (in Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills). Convenient visitor-paid parking is available on site, and AC Transit bus line 53 provides direct service from the Fruitvale BART station and points between. For reservations, call (510) 336-7300. For more information and specific showtimes for "Mars Quest,"  visit the website at www.chabotspace.org.

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