Occultation (wiki): An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer.
On June 30 we will have the opportunity to observe the Moon cover and uncover the planet Venus in the early morning sky. The phenomenon begins with the Moon slowly passing in front of Venus at 09:06 Local Time (06:06 UT) and reappearing at 10:28 LT (07:28 UT). Due to the phenomenon's close proximity with the Sun (approx. 13 degrees to the east) anyone who attempts to view or photograph it should be EXTREMELY CAREFUL not to accidentally point a telescope at the Sun while looking for the objects. The Sun's intense luminosity amplified through a telescope will cause severe injury to the careless individual.



Click the image below to view how Anthony Ayiomamitis captured a similar event on June 18, 2007 as well as his
collection of occultations!

It was a thriller! Here in Nicosia we lost the phenomenon up to totality due to thick clouds & fog, occasionally getting glimpses through holes in the clouds. Halfway through the event the skies gradually opened and we got to witness the exit from totality all the way to the end!

I had arranged to meet with Pampos & the others at Akropolis Park so we could set up our joined equipment: My CG5 mount with Pampos's Vixen ED81S & 450D. Due to the clouds we were unable to get a decent polar alignment or even get the focus right which resulted in mostly soft images up to mid-totality. Once the skies opened I was able to fix the focus and we enjoyed the end of the eclipse with decent results!