Saturn Crosses the Crab Nebula: 04/05th Jan 2003

Posted on 23 December, 2002 13:43:57

Article by HazarryHAA

For BruAstronomy

Above: Looking Eastern sky of Brunei about 45° above the horizon at 08:00 pm on 05th January 2003, Saturn crosses the Crab Nebula

On the evening of January 4, Saturn will approach close to Crab Nebula (M1). And Saturn will begin the crossing in front of the nebula at approximately 23:00 Local time and will continue on until predawn hours on the 5th Jan 2003 and Saturn will set at 05:09 LT.

The event will occur for about 18 hours and we (people in Brunei) will have the opportunity to see at least part of this rare event (providing the weather cooperates) since most of the transit will occur below our horizon.

On the evening of January 5, viewing 063° from north at about 8:00 pm, the brilliantly bright ringed planet (at magnitude -0.4) will be in front of the starless Crab. This event will be best viewed using a pair of binocular or small telescope and you will expect Saturn's rings to be tilted toward us and behind the planet will be an oval glow (the nebula). The rare transit across M1, the Crab Nebula, will end at about 23:00 LT on Jan 5.

InsyaAllah, we will have a sky watching for this special event here in Brunei on that nights (either 4 or 5th). And for those who are really interested to watch such event please welcome and join us (reply via this e-mail at [email protected]) and I will inform you when and where the skygazing will be held. In addition please join/visit our astronomy group discussion at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bruastronomy for further details and post any questions & comments. Members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD) please come!