- Venus disappears behind the Moon in a daytime occultation on June 17.
- On June 17th, much of North America can watch the Moon occult Venus in the daytime sky.
- For viewers in Chicago, the limb touches the planet at 2:24 p.m. local time and takes some 27 seconds to completely cover the illuminated portion.
- More than an hour later at 3:50 p.m., Venus will appear to 'rise' at the Moon's bright limb.
- The timing of the event depends on your location: Venus disappears at 3:49 P.M. EDT on the East Coast, 2:24 P.M. CDT in Austin, Texas, and 12:55 P.M. MDT in Denver.
- At the time, the Moon will be 3.1 days old and 11% illuminated.
- By evening on June 17, the Moon is crossing the Beehive Cluster (M44), having left Venus behind.
On June 17, much of North America will witness a rare daytime occultation of Venus by the Moon. The timing of this celestial event varies significantly by location.
In Austin, Texas, Venus will disappear at 2:24 P.M. CDT, while Chicago viewers will see it at the same local time, taking approximately 27 seconds to be completely obscured.35
On the East Coast, the event occurs at 3:49 P.M. EDT, and in Denver, it begins at 12:55 P.M. MDT.
At the time of the occultation, the Moon will be 3.1 days old and 11% illuminated, providing a unique opportunity for skywatchers.6
By evening, the Moon will have moved on to cross the Beehive Cluster (M44), leaving Venus behind.7
This event is a remarkable chance for astronomy enthusiasts to observe the interplay between these celestial bodies during daylight hours.
“On June 17, Venus will disappear behind the Moon in a daytime occultation, with specific timings varying across North America. In Chicago, the event will begin at 2:24 p.m. local time.”
