Lunar Occultation of Venus – 14 September 2026
Taken by Javier Manteca Exposito on September 14, 2026 @
Getafe, Madrid, SPAIN
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Camera Used: Unavailable Unavailable
Exposure Time: Unavailable
Aperture: Unavailable
ISO: Unavailable
Date Taken: 2026:09:14 15:03:46
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Details:
This image captures the reappearance of Venus behind the lunar limb during the daylight occultation of 14 September 2026, as observed from Getafe, Spain. The photograph was taken at 12:22:20 local time, precisely at the moment when Venus emerged from behind the Moon’s illuminated edge after being temporarily obscured.
The lunar surface displays high‑contrast relief with sharply defined craters and terminator shading, enhanced by infrared imaging at 685 nm. Venus appears as a bright, partially illuminated disk, its phase clearly visible despite the strong daytime sky background. The juxtaposition of the rugged lunar terrain and the smooth planetary crescent highlights the geometric precision of this rare celestial alignment.
The observation was carried out using a Skywatcher Skymax 90 Maksutov telescope and a ZWO ASI178MM monochrome camera, paired with an IR685 filter to improve atmospheric stability and contrast. Exposure parameters were 3 ms and gain 40, allowing the capture of fine lunar detail while preserving the subtle brightness gradient of Venus.
The event was particularly challenging to record because the occultation occurred in full daylight, with the Moon at an altitude of only 7° 51′ above the horizon. At such a low elevation, atmospheric turbulence, scattering, and strong sky brightness severely limit contrast and resolution. Under these conditions, the Moon was not visible to the naked eye, requiring careful pointing and tracking through the telescope to locate it. Despite this, the image documents the exact moment of Venus’s reappearance, illustrating the dynamics of planetary motion and the interplay between Earth’s natural satellite and the inner planets.
Photographer's website:
https://www.tasico.es
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