Last North American Night Occultation of Spica Friday night, Feb. 17/18

The dark-side reappearance will be visible for observers near the Atlantic coast north of Brunswick, Georgia, and also from the Canary Islands and part of Africa

New: 2006 February 13

    The gibbous Moon, 79% sunlit waning, will occult Spica for 
observers in eastern North America, the Canary Islands, and 
northwest Africa; the event will occur in daylight, shortly after 
sunrise, across central Africa, as far south as Namibia.  In North 
America, observers in eastern Canada will have the best view (Moon 
higher in the sky for those farther east), but observers in the USA 
north and east of Brunswick, Georgia will also be able to observe 
the dark-side spectacular reappearance.  For example, the 
reappearance will occur at 3:58.9 UT Feb. 18 (Fri. evening, Feb. 17, 
10:58.9 pm EST) in Washington, DC, 71 deg. from the southern cusp on 
the dark side with the Moon 8 deg. above the e.s.e. horizon, in 
azimuth 111 deg.  Predictions for many dozens of other North American 
cities are here while predictions for major cities
in Africa are here.  
This is the last lunar occultation of Spica visible from North 
America at night for several years.

David Dunham, IOTA
home dunham@starpower.net 301-474-4722 cell 301-526-5590 
office david.dunham@jhuapl.edu 240-228-5609