Venus may have swallowed its own moon
Venus may have once had a moon, but new research suggests the planet’s incredibly slow rotation could have doomed it. Computer simulations showed that instead of gradually drifting away like Earth’s moon, a Venusian moon would likely spiral inward until it crashed into the planet, with larger moons falling even faster.
An extraordinary celestial event will take place over Saudi Arabia and parts of the Arab world on Monday. The moon will obscure Venus as seen from Earth, a phenomenon known as an occultation. This rare occurrence is set to be visible from various parts of the Kingdom and multiple Arab nations. The Noor Astronomy Association has explained that this happens when the moon aligns between Venus and the observer on Earth, temporarily blocking the planet from view.
The moon and Venus will be approximately 40 degrees away from the sun, making it possible to witness the event during daylight with proper astronomical equipment. However, safety is paramount - observers are strongly advised to use certified solar filters to protect their eyes, as looking directly at the sun is dangerous. The event will be visible across northern, central, and southern regions of Saudi Arabia.
At the Noor Astronomy Observatory in Qassim, the occultation is expected to begin at 1:04 p.m. local time and last until 2:38 p.m., at which point Venus will reappear from behind the moon. This event offers a unique opportunity for the public to observe the movements of celestial bodies and gain a deeper understanding of the geometric relationships between the moon, planets, and sun from an Earth-based perspective. It also provides a chance to verify the accuracy of astronomical calculations.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Moon to occult Venus in daylight over Saudi Arabia today english.ajel.sa
