This particular occultation we could not find in any lists. From our Location "Pune,INDIA" (Lon:73^o58’E / Lat:18^o34'N), While searching for occultations of stars by planet through various softwares we suspected that the star SAO 162764 (R.A.:19^h33^m43^s Dec:-15^o49’40" with Mag. of +8.5) will be occulted by Venus (Mag.-4.6) on 21th March at 00:58 UT.

We tried to calculate the possibility of occultation by manual calculations. With star position for Epoch 1950, no occultation was appeared to be happening. With star position Epoch 2000 also, the occultation was missing narrowly. Thus, we interpolated the star position for 20th March 1998. The calculation results were encouraging. Thus, we decided to observe it through Telescopes and CCD which was provided by IUCAA, Pune.

Other problem was the huge difference of brightness. Venus was shining at -4.6 and the star at mere +8.5. We felt this difference too big to try any sort of photography. The brightness difference of 2.51^(4.6+8.5) = 2.51^13 = 1,57,000 proved too much for the CCD also.

If we adjust the exposure time suitable for Venus, the star was undetectable. and if we adjust it for the star, the CCD was saturating and overflowing. Still we managed to expose the CCD for overflowing Venus and star approaching the Venus.

We could see the star approaching the Venus about 15 minute prior to predicted start of occultation, then onwards, we couldn’t see star visually nor through CCD. Obviously, we couldn’t record the timing of star of the occultation. But from the from the observations we could say that the occultation will take place. We are trying to process the CCD image to predict the occultation timing The final CCD images will also be shortly added on this page.

The predicted end of occultation was after dawn.

This event was witnessed our members Suhas Gurjar, Aniruddha Deshpande, Deepak Joshee and Mr.Arvind Paranjpe from IUCAA.

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date   : fri, 6 feb 1998 02:29:54 +0500 (gmt+0500)
from   : arvind paranjpye 
to     : joan and david dunham 
subject: aldebaran occultation reports

Dear David,

Reporting here timings of occultation of aldebaran taken 
on 5 Feb 98 from iucaa  (the coordinates reported to you 
by N.C.Rana/Mridula.  No personal equation was obtained. 
The "ear and eye method" was used for timing the 
occultation. Celestron C8 and a 3" refractor was used. 

               Feb.5,98-UT      Feb.6,98-IST
    With C8 :  19:38:15.95      01:08:15.95
    With 3" :  19:38:15.81      01:08:15.81

The sky condition was good but there were thin cloud.

The lead role was played by Aniruddh Deshpande, Suhas Gurjar 
of the local Amateur Astronomers Association called Jyotirvidya 
Parisanstha Pune. We also suspects that there was a graze 
(mag 6.5) at 18:55 ut, is it expected?

Bye

Arvind
21:04 ut 5/2/98