8th DECEMBER 2022: THE FULL MOON OCCULTS THE PLANET MARS.

 This morning at my longitude, at 04:57 hrs, the Full Moon moved in front of the planet Mars and exactly 60 minutes later at 05:57hrs, Mars reappeared from behind the Moon. To be sure of photographing this, I stayed awake all-night, not observing at the telescope as I normally would as the temperature was sub-degrees! Approaching the time of occultation, I positioned myself at the backdoor, bracing myself against the frame. Looking through binoculars to check the position of Mars to the limb of the Moon, I began to fire-off 43 photos to encompass the event before occultation and just after the event was in progress. Then, at the point of event end, another 43 photos were taken, a total of 86 photos. Although the sky was cloudy, it was bright enough for both objects to be seen and photographed. Not all the photos that resulted  are good enough to be published. But of those that are, a small selection is shown here covering the before and after event happening.

Full Moon & Mars at 17:04hrs on the east horizon, 07Dec2022.

Full Moon 17:05hrs 07Dec2022.

There is high, thin and rapidly moving cloud at 04:00hrs and so, with the Moon being so bright, I decide to chance my hand at taking photos of the main occultation event.

04:54hrs The Full Moon & Mars (North is up, East to left ) 08Dec2022.

04:55hrs The Full Moon & Mars (North is up, East to left ) 08Dec2022.

04:56hrs The Full Moon & Mars (North is up, East to left ) 08Dec2022.

04:57hrs The Full Moon & Mars (North is up, East to left ) 08Dec2022.

04:58hrs The Full Moon & Mars (North is up, East to left ) 08Dec2022. Mars is now completely behind the Moon.

By the time approaching re-emergence of Mars, most of the cloud, that had helped to provide picturesque photos, had began to disperse to leave a clear sky to the west.

05:56hrs 08Dec2022, Mars begins to emerge from behind the Moon.

05:57hrs 08Dec2022, Mars begins to emerge from behind the Moon.

05:57hrs 08Dec2022, Mars begins to emerge from behind the Moon.

05:57hrs 08Dec2022, Mars, is now clearly visible, attached to the Moon.

05:58hrs 08Dec2022, Mars is now detached from the Moon.

05:58hrs 08Dec2022, Mars has noticeably moved from the limb of the Moon.

06:01hrs 08Dec2022, Mars and the Moon.

06:02hrs 08Dec2022, Mars is very clearly moving rapidly away from the Moon.

Very pleased with myself for obtaining these photos...and quite a few more that I've not used! Standing outside the backdoor in sub-zero temperatures and wearing only thin 'pjs' in the dark, was an exhilarating experience. Needless to say, I went back to bed after this for a few hours.

RJC

END.