The ACCIMT Telescope Will Be Open to the Public on the Night of the 24th to Witness the Rare Lunar Occultation of Saturn
Prof Chandana Jayaratne, the Chairman of the ACCIMT, announced that the ACCIMT astronomical observatory and the largest telescope in Sri Lanka will be open to the public on the night of July 24th from 11.00 p.m. to 25th 3.00 a.m. This will allow the public to witness the Lunar Occultation of Saturn – a rare celestial event that will not be visible in Sri Lanka again until April 24th, 2037.
The Moon covering the planet Saturn, the 2nd largest planet in the solar system, will begin around 50 minutes past midnight and last for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Saturn will reappear around 2.10 a.m. on the morning of July 25th. The timing of this event may vary by location in Sri Lanka, and exact timings can be found on the ACCIMT website.
While the event can be observed from home with the naked eye or binoculars, the public is invited to visit the ACCIMT for a more spectacular view of Saturn, the Moon, and other celestial objects starting from 11.00 p.m. However, Prof. Jayaratne advises the public not to come to the ACCIMT Institute if the sky is cloudy and visibility is poor.
The ACCIMT astronomical observatory in Sri Lanka will be open to the public on July 24th night to observe the Lunar Occultation of Saturn, a rare celestial event that can only be seen again in 2037. The planet Saturn will be covered by the Moon starting around midnight for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, reappearing around 2.10 a.m. on July 25th. The exact timings vary by location in Sri Lanka. The public can observe the event from home or visit the ACCIMT for a better view, but should only come if the sky is clear and not covered by clouds.
