Bandar Seri Begawan – People in Brunei Darussalam is set to witness a rare astronomical event when the Moon passes in front of the Venus causing the bright planet to temporarily disappear from the night sky on March 24, 2023.

During the lunar occultation, the Moon is perfectly aligned to pass in front of the brightest planet which is visible only from a limited part of the world.

The astronomical phenomenon will be visible from regions in South Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia including Brunei.

Observing Venus

Currently, the evening planet Venus shines brightly at magnitude -4.0, which makes it easily visible to the unaided eyes in sky after sunset. In fact, it is the third brightest celestial body in the sky after the Sun and the Moon.

An hour after sunset, Venus will appear like a bright “star” just a few degrees away from the Moon, which offers an eye-catching view of the two celestial bodies in the evening skies.

Timings of Occultation

If weather permitting, stargazers in Brunei should be able to see the brilliant “evening star” (which is in fact Venus) approaching close the Moon just before the occultation.

According to the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA), Venus disappears behind the Moon at 8.05 p.m. from Brunei Darussalam. As this occultation involves the 3 day-old waxing lunar crescent, Venus will hide behind the unilluminated side of the moon.

The planet will then re-emerge from behind the moon’s sunlit edge approximately 28 minutes later, at 8.33 p.m. From Brunei, the reappearance will occur at a low altitude of about 2 degrees, and a clear unobstructed view of West horizon is needed to sight the unique event.

In the past, occultations was used for scientific purposes such as refining the Moon’s profile (e.g. shape of the lunar limb) and its orbit properties.

Rare Event

The last disappearance act of Venus behind the moon happened during the daylight of May 27, 2022. The Moon-Venus occultation from Brunei will not happen again until 16 years, on May 27, 2039.

Press Release

The celestial geometry of an occultation – 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 “star” (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.

It will then re-emerge from behind the moon’s dark side approximately 1 hour 42 minutes later, at 12.40 p.m.

Other Locations

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 – 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:

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.

Press Release

English & Malay

It’s a Ramadan end treat when the two naked-eye planets appear stunningly close next to each other or astronomically known as conjunction.

“Morning Star” Venus will appear 0.2° next to the gas giant Jupiter, which is a very close encounter at pre-dawn hours on Sunday, May 1.

If the sky is clear, it will be visible to the naked eye, and observers will see them merge into one super bright glare in the sky. Use our live sky chart to determine the position of the planet in our sky here.

You can enjoy the spectacle with an ordinary pair of binocular or a small telescope as both worlds will fit within the field of view.

In fact, in a century (from 2001 until 2099), there are only 22 events of which the bright celestial duo pass within 0.5°, which is less than the angular diameter of the Moon in the sky. However, since Venus is positioned close to the Sun, conjunction occurrences involving this planet most of time happen during daylight which are less favorable.

The next Venus-Jupiter to get this close again will be on November 02, 2039.

Bandar Seri Begawan – On the early mornings of October 2, 3 and 4, brilliant Venus and the bright star Regulus will appear near one another in the east before sunrise. Venus will appear about a degree above Regulus on October 2, and below Regulus on October 4. The amazing duo should appear in the same field of view in binoculars.

Their conjunction will come on Saturday, October 3, at 7:35 am at which time Venus will pass a close by 0.09 degree south of Regulus. That’s very close encounter! At the moment of the smallest separation, the objects are not visible due to sun glare.

You can catch the spectacular astronomical conjunction at 5 a.m. Saturday, October 03, 2020, when their separation is 0.1° from Brunei Darussalam that won’t happen again for another 8 years (in early October 2028, 2036 and 2044).

Join our Brunei astronomy community discussion and share your cosmic conjunction photos via Telegram t.me/bruneiastronomy or WhatsApp bruneiastronomy.org/wa

[Note: 1 degree is about the width of your little finger held at arm’s length]

The Pleiades (M45) is the most famous of all open cluster and very rich with more than 1000 stars. At least 7 prominent stars in the cluster are easily visible, hence this jewel is nicknamed as the “Seven Sisters”.

The rare spectacular conjunction will be visible either to the naked eyes or best view with a small telescope/binoculars. A great moment to photograph too! Look west just after sunset, and see for yourself.

Venus passes through the Pleiades in this way about once every 8 years. According to EarthSky, “the last good opportunity of similar celestial pairing happened on April 3, 2012, and next will take place on April 4, 2028.”

Clear skies!

Photo by Hj Mahadi, President of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam.

UPDATE: June 30, 2015. Some photos of the event.

Update April 12, 2015: Another change to view a celestial conjunction of Venus and Pleiades today. Clear sky!

The brilliance of Venus and a beautiful set of “Seven Sisters” star cluster (the Pleiades) are visible very close to each other from Pantai Seri Kenangan, Tutong, at dusk today.

UniverseToday.com stated that “Every 8 years on mid-April evenings, Venus skirts the Pleiades just as it’s doing this week. Think back to April 2007 and you might remember a similar passage; a repeat will happen in April 2023. Venus’ cyclical visits to the Seven Sisters occur because the planet’s motion relative to the Sun repeats every 8 years as seen from Earth’s skies. No matter where and when you see Venus – morning or evening, high or low – you’ll see it in nearly the same place 8 years from that date.”

The spectacular close conjunction will be observable to the naked eyes until next week (April 17). Look west after sunset and clear skies!!

Bandar Seri Begawan – Look west in twilight on February 20 and 21 as two planets, Venus and  Mars, appear close one another in the sky and will be accompanied by the thin moon crescent. The celestial phenomena  known as conjunctions occur when celestial bodies have the same right ascension or the same ecliptic longitude as seen from the Earth. While it would be very low in the twilight sky, it might be an interesting photo opportunity.  Venus will be shining bright in the west after sunset and sky gazers can locate Mars as they are separated within 1 degree apart. If the weather cooperates, it could be a spectacular image.