Context

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) based in Bengaluru captured the passing of the moon in front of Antares, a bright red star.

Occultation Of Moon By Antares

• Observation of Antares Occultation from Bengaluru:  As seen from Bengaluru, Antares disappeared behind the bright side of the illuminated portion of the moon around 1:13 a.m. and reemerged on the darker side approximately 40 minutes later.
• Occultation of Celestial Bodies: While moving in its orbit roughly once a month, the moon occasionally occults, or hides, bright stars that are behind, and sometimes, even planets. 
  • This is an occasional phenomenon for the star Antares, the brightest star in the Scorpius constellation. 
• Occultations for India: The most recent occultation of Antares visible from India occurred on February 5 of this year, with the next one anticipated in June 2027. 
• However, Indians can observe the occultation of the planet Saturn by the moon on July 24 and again on October 14 in 2024.

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Scorpius Constellation

Scorpius constellation is known for being one of the 13 constellations of the zodiac, a belt-shaped area of the night sky that the sun, moon, and planets appear to pass through. It is one of the brightest constellations in the night sky.

• Stars: Scorpius has 18 named stars, including Antares, known as “rival of Mars,” a red giant star named for its bright hue, and Shaula and Lesath.
• It also has 14 stars known to have planets orbiting them. 

Antares

 It is a red coloured, brightest star in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius.

• Distance from Earth: Antares lies about 600 light-years from the Earth. 
• Size: It is one of the largest known stars, having several hundred times the diameter of the Sun and 10,000 times the Sun’s luminosity.