Here is another way that can be used to check for conjunctions, eclipses, occultations, etc.

Doesn't matter where the moon is located. First, right click on the Moon, then click ok. Then move to whatever target you want to pair with, say one of the stars in the Pleiades. Right click on the star, click ok and then from the EXTRAS drop down menu, choose either conjunction or show eclipse. Guide will then update the screen to show the Moon and the target star on the next date. Click 'conjunction' again and it goes to the next date. A better way is to choose 'show eclipse'. Guide then displays the world map with the eclipse path. You can then use the 'previous' or 'next' from the menu bar at the top of the sceen to see other dates. You can also toggle between the starmap and the world map by clicking on the toolbar button of the 'eclipse' if you have it setup to show along with your other toolbar buttons.

I use this method to see what and when various events will take place. This also works for showing conjunctions of two planets, etc.

Clear skies,
Ben Hudgens
Stephenville, TX

----- Original Message -----
From: Elliott, Robert C.
To: guide-user@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 3:26 PM
Subject: RE: [guide-user] Re: The moon and the Pleiades


Hi Guide users.

Mark's E-mail prompted me to tell you about a talk I gave in August at the Northwoods Starfest in Wisconsin regarding the upcoming series of occultations of the Pleiades by the moon. You can explore this for your location by placing the moon near to the Pleiades, eg. October 19th 2005 is a good place to start. Right click on the moon and turn on the animation function and set the time span to the moon's Sidereal period so it will always be near the Pleiades for each step. Search for dates when the moon will be near or actually cover up some of the Pleiades stars starting early next year. These occultations occur on a eighteen year cycle when the moon's ascending node coincides with the Vernal equinox and then has extremes in declination necessary to reach the Pleiades.

Good viewing,

Bob Elliott
Lake Leelanau, MI




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]