Occultation at Fiddler's Hearth-Jan. 19

Did you see the moon and Aldebaran tonight? Some people may have dismissed it as being cloudy outside--and even snowing--but there they were, the moon and Aldebaran just over a fist apart.

This evening (Tuesday, Jan. 19) go outside and look south around 9:00 p.m. to find the star Aldebaran slightly to the moon's left. Watch several minutes to see what happens next.

With your naked eye you can discern the star and the dark edge of the waxing moon approaching each other. However, I encourage you to visit Fiddler's Hearth Public House at 127 N. Main St. in South Bend, IN, and sneak a magnified peek before Aldebaran disappears around 9:05 p.m. EST. Around 8:30 p.m. we'll have a telescope set up for you and your guests to slew, akin to our efforts to observe the moon occulting Venus midday last year. As tonight's image suggests, even if it seems cloudy Tuesday night you might want to get outside anyway. The only way you'll find grandeur is if you look for it.

Again, thanks go to Fiddler's Hearth proprietors Terry and Carol Meehan for promoting science in the community and on the street.

As of this writing, I'm not sure whether scopes will be relocated and set up at 10:22 p.m., too, when Aldebaran re-emerges along the bright edge of the moon. We'll play that by ear.