Bandar Seri Begawan – The Moon will pass in front of Venus creating a special celestial phenomenon of lunar occultation on May 27, 2022.
The celestial geometry of an occultation โ the Earth, Moon and Venus are in a straight line. During the event, the Moon is perfectly aligned to pass in front of the brightest planet which is visible only from small segments of the world.
For the most region in Southeast Asia including Brunei Darussalam, this lunar occultation of Venus takes place in a daytime sky.
Observing Venus
Venus is the third brightest celestial body in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. Currently, the morning planet shines brightly at magnitude -4.1, which is easily visible in broad daylight sky for many experienced observers.
Less-casual observers may need an optical aid such as a telescope or binoculars and aim to the Moon crescent during the daytime to witness this occultation. Venus will be a few degrees away from the Moon hours before the occultation.
Timing of Occultation
If the sky is clear and blue, sky watcher in Brunei should be able to see a very bright โstarโ (which is in fact Venus) approaching close the Moon prior to the occultation.
Venus disappears behind the Moon at 10.58 a.m. for Brunei Darussalam. As this occultation involves the waning lunar crescent, at the beginning of the occultation, Venus will glide behind the bright side of the moon.
[Source: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)]
It will then re-emerge from behind the moonโs dark side approximately 1 hour 42 minutes later, at 12.40 p.m.
Other Locations
| Location | Start – Venus Disappears | End – Venus Reappears |
| Jakarta | 02:13:12 (UTC) 09:13:12 (WIB) | 03:52:12 (UTC) 10:52:12 (WIB) |
| Seremban+ | 02:18:57 (UTC) 10:18:57 (MY) | 04:07:08 (UTC) 12:07:08 (MY) |
| Kuala Lumpur | 02:19:05 (UTC) 10:19:05 (MY) | 04:07:05 (UTC) 12:07:05 (MY) |
| Kota Bahru | 02:30:37 (UTC) 10:30:37 (MY) | 04:14:52 (UTC) 12:14:52 (MY) |
| Surabaya | 02:38:00 (UTC) 09:38:00 (WIB) | 03:52:33 (UTC) 10:52:33 (WIB) |
| Brunei | 02:58:16 (UTC) 10:58:16 (BN) | 04:40:47 (UTC) 12:40:47 (BN) |
| Kota Kinabalu | 03:03:23 (UTC) 11:03:23 (MY) | 04:45:09 (UTC) 12:45:09 (MY) |
Live Streaming
The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam is collaboratively partnering with six other astronomical institutions and observatories for providing live views of the Moon-Venus occultation from around the regions.
The co-organizers of the online observation are from Malaysia โ Apadilangit; Dark Sky Malaysia; Negeri Selangor Falak Association (PAFNS) and Negeri Kelantan Amateur Astronomy-Falak Association, and Indonesia – Sunan Ampel Surabaya Astronomical Observatory (OASA) and Jakarta Planetarium.
The webcast will begin at 8.30 a.m. until 12.45 p.m. (Brunei time) which can be accessed via www.bruneiastronomy.org or respective co-organiser’s social media platform below:
| Coorganisers | Live Streaming (available) |
| Persatuan Astronomi Negara Brunei Darussalam (PABD) www.bruneiastronomy.org | facebook.com/bruneiastronomy youtube.com/bruneiastronomy |
| Apadilangit www.apadilangit.com | facebook.com/apadilangit/ youtube.com/channel/UC2bdrkeI0v-YantxHBasqyw |
| Dark Sky Malaysia www.darkskymalaysia.com | |
| Persatuan Ahli Falak Negeri Selangor (PAFNS) www.fb.com/persatuanfalakselangor/ | facebook.com/DrSairin |
| Persatuan Astronomi-Falak Amatur Negeri Kelantan www.fb.com/falakkelantan | |
| Observatorium Astronomi Sunan Ampel (OASA) https://uinsby.ac.id/ | youtube.com/c/FakultasSyariahdanHukumUINSunanAmpelSurabaya |
| Planetarium Jakarta www.instagram.com/planetariumjkt/ |
Rare Event
People in Brunei will be able to see the next occultations of Venus on March 24, 2023, and followed by 16 years later, on May 27, 2039.
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