SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Michael Teoh
Location of Photo:
Heng Ee Observatory, Penang, Malaysia
Date/Time of photo:
24 March 2023, 12:06-12:35 uT
Equipment:
APM-TMB 228/2050 Telescope, QHY5III178C Camera
Description:
On March 24, 2023, astronomy enthusiasts in the eastern part of Asia were able to observe the lunar occultation of Venus. Here in Malaysia, only the northern part of the peninsular and the northern part of the Borneo island could observe the occultation. The Heng Ee Observatory located about 50 km from the path of occultation, therefore a very close conjunction was observed. The Moon and Venus were as close as 16.3 arc minute from each other, where Venus was seen a mere 30 arc second away from the northern limb of the 2.5-day-old crescent moon. The composite image shows the sequence of the Moon moving past Venus. It looks like Venus was leaving the Moon, but in fact Venus was further away than the Moon, so it was actually the Moon moving across between the Earth and Venus.
