On the evening of Monday 4 August Saturn is occulted by the Moon as seen from the most of Australia. This is the third and best of these rare occultations, it is under reasonable dark skies, with Saturn slipping behind the dark limb of the Last Quarter Moon. Saturn reappears while the Moon is still reasonably high.

http://theconversation.com/rare-occultation-of-saturn-by-the-moon-4-august-2014-30075

While everywhere except Tasmania sees Saturn go behind the Moon (Tasmanians get to see Titan scrape along the edge of the Moon which will be cool too), the most dramatic views will be in Southern Victoria, where the Moon slides along the edge of the Moon before vanishing, then reappears sliding from behind the lighted side of the Moon.

Although this event is easily seen with the unaided eye, it is best seen in a small telescope so you can see the ringed world in detail as it vanishes behind the Moon. Saturn’s moon Titan will be occulted before Saturn, so you can see the Moon occult a moon.

>the most dramatic views will be in Southern Victoria, where the Moon slides along the edge of the Moon before vanishing

Um, I think they mean Saturn slides along the edge of the Moon, not the Moon.

thanks, might get the telescope out of the box this evening.

Very cloudy sky this end.

Bubblecar said:

Very cloudy sky this end.

Too cold to go outside this end, I will wait for the YouTube.

Well I got a peep at Saturn being very close to the moon, but now it’s all gone behind heavy black cloud.

Cloud near the horizon here, but so far Saturn and the moon are both visible.

I can see the moon. But there ain’t no stars or planets visible. Got fast moving bubbly looking cloud here. The moon is the only thing bright enough to show up.

I know this because I went out picking lettuce leaves by torchlight. The chef forgot to tell me lettuce was needed tonight.

buffy said:

I know this because I went out picking lettuce leaves by torchlight. The chef forgot to tell me lettuce was needed tonight.

Rocket of course

Dropbear said:

buffy said:

I know this because I went out picking lettuce leaves by torchlight. The chef forgot to tell me lettuce was needed tonight.

Rocket of course

Sky is as clear as a bell here. Can see it all.

Just had a look through the binoculars. Getting very close.

party_pants said:

Just had a look through the binoculars. Getting very close.

Yes it is interesting to watch but too cold to stay out.

roughbarked said:

party_pants said:

Just had a look through the binoculars. Getting very close.

Yes it is interesting to watch but too cold to stay out.

yeah, it’s like that in winter. Don’t think I’ll get the telescope out after all.

i got the el cheapo out. handheld but saw it no probs. very close.

JudgeMental said:

i got the el cheapo out. handheld but saw it no probs. very close.

I was surprised how easy it is to see.

I couldn’t be arsed getting the scope out, but be buggered if I can find where the kids have hidden my binos.

Oh well, just used a Marl 1 eyeball.

be hard to see against the glare of the moon.

sibeen said:

I couldn’t be arsed getting the scope out, but be buggered if I can find where the kids have hidden my binos.

Oh well, just used a Marl 1 eyeball.

You should have just screamed and yelled at the kids and demanded they produce the binoculars from wherever they had hidden it.

JudgeMental said:

be hard to see against the glare of the moon.

Is now, yeah.

just have to wait for the unoccultation to happen.

Cloud getting worse here.

I was multitasking….hanging sheets on the line.

Nice clear view of it here.

buffy said:

I was multitasking….hanging sheets on the line.

You are keen, frigging freezing out there. Or maybe I am turning into a wimp, I do seem to feel the cold more.

AwesomeO said:

buffy said:

I was multitasking….hanging sheets on the line.

You are keen, frigging freezing out there. Or maybe I am turning into a wimp, I do seem to feel the cold more.

You need a lot more meat on your bones, to keep out the chills.

AwesomeO said:

buffy said:

I was multitasking….hanging sheets on the line.

You are keen, frigging freezing out there. Or maybe I am turning into a wimp, I do seem to feel the cold more.

It’s about 6 degrees outside. Warm night tonight, not going for a freeze. I guess that’s because there are clouds.

buffy said:

I was multitasking….hanging sheets on the line.

—

I just went out for a piss and managed to see the faint light of Saturn.

Amazing given the burn offs around here

The last couple of nights have been fabulous. Milky way like neon. More stars than you could ever want. I even stood out in the dark a couple of nights ago and drank in the wonder.

it’s great on a real clear night buffy. i often go out for a look up.

For those who’ve missed tonight’s adventures, don’t despair – this month’s full “supermoon” (on the 11th) will be the brightest of the year.

Bubblecar said:

AwesomeO said:

buffy said:

I was multitasking….hanging sheets on the line.

You are keen, frigging freezing out there. Or maybe I am turning into a wimp, I do seem to feel the cold more.

You need a lot more meat on your bones, to keep out the chills.

I am working at it,but it seems putting in weight for me is a bit of a task. Seems to be a common thing though, people with similar conditions are all gaunt as well. No fat people on the Alfred 5th floor. Serial, even the doctors and nurses are slim.

overcast & showery here.

AwesomeO said:

Bubblecar said:

AwesomeO said:

You are keen, frigging freezing out there. Or maybe I am turning into a wimp, I do seem to feel the cold more.

You need a lot more meat on your bones, to keep out the chills.

I am working at it,but it seems putting in weight for me is a bit of a task. Seems to be a common thing though, people with similar conditions are all gaunt as well. No fat people on the Alfred 5th floor. Serial, even the doctors and nurses are slim.

—-

Right, so the next tenant has to be a nurse that can cook, rent free of course…

tauto said:

AwesomeO said:

Bubblecar said:

You need a lot more meat on your bones, to keep out the chills.

I am working at it,but it seems putting in weight for me is a bit of a task. Seems to be a common thing though, people with similar conditions are all gaunt as well. No fat people on the Alfred 5th floor. Serial, even the doctors and nurses are slim.

—-

Right, so the next tenant has to be a nurse that can cook, rent free of course…

The next? I do get some nurse attention but I have to drive down to Melbourne to get it. A live in person in place of rent would be greAt but not going to bother. Any applicants would be nutters.

Nice image from Cassini: the tiny moon Prometheus (86km across), one of the two little moons that keep the F ring (the skinny ring next to it) confined to their narrow band.

tauto said:

Right, so the next tenant has to be a nurse that can cook, rent free of course…

I need the opposite, a paid servant who can keep my food strictly rationed.

But there’s no room in this cottage for servant’s quarters.

Bubblecar said:

tauto said:

Right, so the next tenant has to be a nurse that can cook, rent free of course…

I need the opposite, a paid servant who can keep my food strictly rationed.

But there’s no room in this cottage for servant’s quarters.

I have room but cannot pay much of a wage.

Just saw it! Had to block out Saturn’s glare with my thumb though. Pretty Scorpion and Mars too.

AwesomeO said:

I have room but cannot pay much of a wage.

Neither can I, so it’s probably a good job I don’t have the room.

And it’s back! So exciting!

OCDC said:

And it’s back! So exciting!

So it is.

party_pants said:

OCDC said:

And it’s back! So exciting!

So it is.

I should have taken photos. Crystal clear here.

roughbarked said:

party_pants said:

OCDC said:

And it’s back! So exciting!

So it is.

I should have taken photos. Crystal clear here.

Me too, but I couldn’t be arsed because it was cold.

party_pants said:

roughbarked said:

party_pants said:

So it is.

I should have taken photos. Crystal clear here.

Me too, but I couldn’t be arsed because it was cold.

Same issue here.