For observers alongside a slim observe that features southern Florida within the U.S., the pink large will vanish for simply seconds as asteroid Leona crosses in entrance of it.
The constellation Orion comprises a number of vibrant stars, together with the pink large Betelgeuse, seen at higher left. Tonight, some areas on Earth will see this star briefly wink out as an asteroid passes in entrance of it from our standpoint. Credit score: Jürgen Mangelsdorf (Flickr)
Fortunate skywatchers in a slim path throughout parts of Asia, Europe, and southern Florida will see an thrilling sight tonight: For an immediate, some of the well-known stars within the sky will wink out.
The star is Betelgeuse, the pink large who anchors one shoulder of Orion the Hunter. And for these within the path, it’s going to very briefly disappear for a matter of seconds when the main-belt asteroid 319 Leona passes in entrance of it in an occasion referred to as an occultation.
What’s an occultation?
An occultation happens when a planet or asteroid in our solar system seems to move in entrance of a extra distant star from our standpoint. This occurs as a result of close by objects seem to maneuver extra — and extra quickly — than the distant stars. Occultations are an essential method for astronomers to check our solar system, as precisely when and the way the background starlight winks out is said to particulars similar to the dimensions and form of the occulting object. It may even reveal beforehand unknown options, similar to rings.
So, though it’s Betelgeuse that can disappear through the occultation, Leona is the true “star” of the present. By watching the best way Betelgeuse disappears and reappears, in addition to timing precisely how lengthy the occasion takes, researchers will have the ability to higher pin down the dimensions and form of Leona — a really tough process, on condition that it’s small and dim and tough to in any other case examine.
However Betelgeuse may reveal some secrets and techniques, too — the star seems so massive even from Earth that we would have the ability to see features on its surface, similar to convective cells.
When and the place will Betelgeuse disappear?
Primarily based on earlier occultations, we all know that Leona is roughly rectangular and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) throughout at its widest. Relying on the place an observer is within the path, Leona’s passage will block Betelgeuse for someplace between 5 and 15 seconds.
Like eclipses, occultations happen solely over slim tracks decided by the place the shadow of the planet or asteroid falls. That is much like the best way the shadow of the Moon passes over just some areas of Earth because it blocks out the Solar throughout a solar eclipse.
The trail for this occultation runs from central Asia by means of Europe, then crosses the Atlantic to fall over southern Florida and a part of Mexico. Within the U.S., the trail runs from northeast to southwest, overlaying the southern tip of Florida from simply north of Fort Lauderdale to simply south of Marco Island. The trail additionally contains all of Key West, terminating simply south of the island. The occultation will happen between about 8:24 P.M. and eight:26 P.M. EST for U.S. observers.
Yow will discover an interactive map exhibiting the trail on the Occult Watcher Cloud website, which is able to help you click on on any location throughout the path to seek out out when precisely it’s predicted to happen.
Notice that the map offers the occasion “mid-time,” or the center of the occultation. Once more, the complete occultation will final solely seconds, so in the event you’re within the path, be sure to are observing Betelgeuse at the least a number of minutes earlier than this time and word that the occultation will begin at most some 7 seconds or so earlier than the mid-time out of your web site.
If you happen to aren’t within the path, don’t fear: The Digital Telescope Undertaking will livestream the occasion, starting at 8 P.M. EST. You’ll be able to watch the feed beneath.
A novel occasion
If you’re within the path and searching up on the proper time, Betelgeuse’s disappearance will likely be a novel and thrilling sight to see. Occultations occur pretty usually, however sometimes they have an effect on dim stars and solely astronomers discover. However Betelgeuse, at magnitude 0.7, is the Eleventh-brightest star within the sky, and a widely known one at that. You may do not forget that it snagged headlines in 2020, when it noticeably dimmed over the course of weeks earlier than regaining its regular brightness. Researchers now suppose it could have “sneezed” out a cloud of plasma that subsequently cooled, blocking a portion of its mild for a time.
This getting old star will sometime (although not imminently) go supernova, leading to a spectacular present that will likely be seen from Earth — albeit some 600 years after the star really explodes, given its distance and the time it’s going to take the sunshine from its demise to succeed in us. However for now, it’s a well-known and fabulous staple of our evening sky and tonight, Betelgeuse presents its assist to provide us a peek on the tiny world Leona, a lot nearer to dwelling.
