Thanks Kurt. This is excellent info as always. Another thing that occultation watchers with PC's should consider is the free tool "Occult Watcher". Unfortunately, I don't believe there is a Mac version. You can download it from: http://www.hristopavlov.net/OccultWatcher/Configuration.html It will give you occultation prediction updates for any selected area. For example, there was an occultation of a mag 8.1 star right over my house that it predicted for about 4:30am this morning. Of course, I couldn't see it because my "cloud filter was non-functional. <g> It will show you google maps with the predicted path, shadow, 1 & 3 sigma ranges, star elevation, moon elevation, etc. I would suggest selecting the IOTA higher probability predictions and the Western North America lower probability events. Clear skies, Dale.
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy- bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Kurt Fisher Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 6:59 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Utah astro wiki update: 1-5-2008 asteriodoccultation
Added to the utah astro wiki current events page, background on the Jan. 5 7.19.9 UT or 12:19am MST occultation by asteroid 4368 Pillmore of 10.8 mag star UCAC2 29623669, probably the same as TYC4843-01058-1.
http://www.utahastronomy.com/Current_observing_events#January_2008
Unfortunately, the maximum duration of the occultation is 1.5 seconds. Therefore, the usual use of these occultations - to prepare a 2D slice map of the outline of the asteroid - is so short that useful data probably could only be retrieved by a few club members equipped with 10 inch apetures and video cameras with intensifiers operating at 30 frames per second.
Nonethless, this occultation provides an opportunity for club members who have not done asteroid occultations to get some experience in this observing skill from the relative comfort of their urban backyards during the cold winter season. Using a small goto alt az telescope or DOB, you can try to see the star blink-out at the appointed time.
A sample of what these occultations look like can be seen in a YouTube of a 3 second occultation of iot Cnc in April of this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYvW7Y7N0tI
Salt Lake County is well positioned to observe this short 1.5 second occultation - the ground track runs east-west between I-215 south to the Point of the Mountain in Salt Lake County. In Tooele County, it runs between SPOC and South Mountain and in Wasatch County between Rockport and the north end of Heber Valley past the Jordanelle Dam.
Being a novice at asteroid occultations, corrections and comments on the background provdied in utah astro wiki entry are welcomed.
Enjoy - Kurt