Planet Occultations During Lunar Eclipses

Joe Rao in September, 1996 issue of Sky & Telescope considers a question of close (less than 5 degrees) conjunctions of bright planets and 1st magnitude stars with eclipsed Moon. I was wondering if eclipsed Moon could ever OCCULT Mars, Jupiter or Saturn. Upon investigating Russian literature on this subject I've found the answer! Here it is:

  • Jupiter will be occulted by eclipsed Moon on 10th of June, 2932 (!!!)
  • Mars - almost 500 years earlier: on 26th of April, 2488 and
  • Saturn - "only" in 3.5 centuries, on 26th of July, 2344!

    Thus, although it will finally happen, no one presently living on Earth will be able to see it with his/her own eyes. Even more, no occultations of Regulus by the eclipsed Moon is expected before 22nd of February, 2445!

    Source: Solar and Lunar Eclipses by M.M.Dagaev, Nauka (Science) Publishers, Moscow, 1st edition, 1978.

    On Jan. 9th, 2001, 3.5 magnitude star delta Geminorum will be occulted by the totally eclipsed Moon. Check out IOTA Web site for more details.

    I'll be glad to get any additional information on this topic. My E-mail address is denis@hea.iki.rssi.ru
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    Denis Denissenko