Venus occultation behind the moon in Jordan's sky on Monday afternoon

According to astronomical calculations for Amman and its suburbs, the initial contact begins at 12:47 PM Jordan time, when Venus starts disappearing behind the Moon's dark limb, with its disappearance becoming complete at 12:49 PM.

Venus will begin to reappear from the Moon's illuminated limb at 2:13 PM, and its reappearance will be complete at 2:15 PM, making the total occultation period about one hour and 24 minutes, while the entire phenomenon from the start of disappearance to full reappearance takes about one hour and 28 minutes.

Sakaji explained that because the occultation occurs during daylight, observing it requires suitable optical tools such as telescopes, binoculars, and astronomical cameras, in addition to a clear sky free of clouds and dust. He noted the difficulty of observing the phenomenon with the naked eye, adding that the Jordanian Astronomical Society will monitor the phenomenon using appropriate optical devices, document it, and publish it for the public.

After the occultation ends, the Moon and Venus will gradually drift apart in appearance until the evening hours, with the angular separation between them reaching about 2 degrees and 20 arcminutes (2°20′) shortly before setting. The two bodies will set with a time difference not exceeding about 5 minutes, allowing observers to see the Moon and Venus side by side in the sky.

Viewing will become easier after sunset and will not require optical equipment, as the conjunction of the Moon and Venus can be seen with the naked eye from various regions of Jordan, provided there is an unobstructed western horizon and clear weather conditions.

Sakaji pointed out that the occultation phenomenon holds scientific importance, as precise measurements of the times celestial bodies disappear and reappear behind the Moon help study the detailed topography of the lunar limb, including mountains and valleys, and compare actual observations with theoretical astronomical calculations.

The Jordanian Astronomical Society warned against the dangers of daytime observation, stressing the necessity of not pointing any telescope or binoculars toward or near the sun, as direct viewing of the sun using optical devices without a dedicated solar filter can lead to serious and permanent eye damage.