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March 26: The Moon occults Kappa Gem
The Moon is now in central Cancer, passing near the outskirts of the Beehive Cluster (M44) tonight.
An hour after sunset, this region is some 65° above the southeastern horizon. M44 sits just southeast of the Moon, the center of the cluster less than 2° from our satellite. Binoculars or a small telescope should show both in the same field of view, although the bright Moon will wash out fainter cluster stars. The Beehive covers an area about 95’ across, about three times the width of the Full Moon. It is easily visible with unaided eyes, although the nearby Moon will again hinder the view without optical aid. In all, this young cluster of stars contains about 350 members between 700 million and 800 million years old.
Overnight, the Moon will track southeast across the sky, passing through the very outskirts of the cluster. Around midnight Eastern time, the Moon sits due north of the Beehive’s center. Our satellite will then continue to move away from the cluster in the early-morning hours of the 28th as the region sinks into the west a few hours before sunrise.
Sunrise: 6:52 A.M.
Sunset: 7:20 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:41 P.M.
Moonset: 4:08 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (75%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 10 P.M. local time from the same location.
