The Occultation of Delta Capricorni, 2007/1/20

I watched the thin crescent Moon, only 1.8 days old, occult the
magnitude 2.9 star Delta Capricorni (ZC3190) this evening from the
Naylor Observatory. It was truly a beautiful sight, one of the best
occultations I've observed in some time.

Prior to the event, the 4% illuminated Moon hung low in the
southwestern sky, with brilliant Venus about a degree to its lower
right. Venus, the Moon, and Delta Cap were visible simultaneously
through a Barska 15x70 binocular and the 17" f/15 classical
Cassegrain's 5" f/5 finder scope. The Old Moon in the New Moon's Arms
was highlighted by a fine display of Earthshine.

Through the 17" at 162x (40mm University Optics MK-70) Venus and Delta
Cap, to a lesser extent, exhibited the classic symptoms of atmospheric
prismatic dispersion as they flashed a series of different colors.

As the Moon grew close to Delta, I kept track of the time. At
approximately 6:20:46 p.m. EST (23:20:46 UT), I watched the star wink
out through the 17" classical Cassegrain. The Moon set before it
reappeared.

Dave Mitsky