Periodicity and Circumstances of Occultations of Some Bright Stars

K Rupa,S Balachandra Rao,Padmaja Venugopal

doi:10.19026/rjaset.8.1048

Abstract

In this paper, we present a study of the phenomenon of lunar occultation of visible stars. In Indian astronomical texts, generally the lunar occultations of some particular visible stars like Regulus (α Leonis) and Spica (α Virginis) are considered important. We are presenting the results of the periodicity of this phenomenon. The instants of true conjunctions of the Moon with some of the stars are discussed. Further, these conjunctions are of greater interest when they turn out to be occultations. We have worked out the actual circumstances of some occultations of stars cited by earlier authors as also for modern times.

Highlights

The famous mathematical astronomer Meeus (1997), in recent years initiated fresh scientific investigations in the phenomenon of lunar occultations of the stars and the planets
For example the visible stars which are eligible for lunar occultation are Regulus (α Leonis), Spica (α Virginis), Aldebaran (α Tauri) and Anteres (α Scorpii)
In the present study we have discussed the procedure for predicting the lunar occultation of a star in particular the phenomenon and its periodicity are worked out for some important visible bright stars like Regulus (α Leonis), Spica (α Virginis), Aldebaran (α Tauri) and Anteres (α Scorpii) etc., we have shown the periods of actual occultations as of no-occultations for different ranges of the difference in the latitudes of the Moon and the concerned star

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The famous mathematical astronomer Meeus (1997), in recent years initiated fresh scientific investigations in the phenomenon of lunar occultations of the stars and the planets. In Meeus (1983) provided a deeper study of this phenomenon in his book “Astronomical tables of the Sun, Moon and Planets” Meeus in his presentation, discusses the procedure with relevant data, to compute the occurrence and circumstances of the lunar occultation of a star. In the present study we have discussed the procedure for predicting the lunar occultation of a star in particular the phenomenon and its periodicity are worked out for some important visible (to the naked eye) bright stars like Regulus (α Leonis), Spica (α Virginis), Aldebaran (α Tauri) and Anteres (α Scorpii) etc., we have shown the periods of actual occultations as of no-occultations for different ranges of the difference in the latitudes of the Moon and the concerned star. We have proposed a new and simple procedure called ‘Improved Siddhantic procedure’ (Balachandra and Padmaja, 2009) the word ‘Siddhantic’ means the classical procedure adopted by Indian astronomers

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CONCLUSION