The graze of this 6.2 (5.4 red) magnitude star is 1.6 degrees from the first quarter moon's south cusp, and has a rough small scale profile good for getting lots of events in a short time. It's also a multiple star, with 4 components. However, all components are south of the primary and will be misses. Only component B is going to be visible, at magnitude 9.0. It will miss the moon, as will the fainter 10th and 13th magnitudes other components. The path goes across Giant Sequoia National Monument, and this is where Cabrillo Astronomy will attempt to get timings of the events.The moon is 33 degrees up in the south. We'll plan to set up a station at 3.00 km north, and another at the turnout just north of that.
The best spot on the profile is at 3.00 km north of the southern limit |
That corresponds to this turnout along Great Western Divide Hwy |
Here's the Google Earth street view |
Here's the profile. The star will move left to right and by the time the bright limb is reached the graze should be over, having reappeared for the final time about 15 seconds earlier |
Occultation of 10.3 star by Qinghai Oct 9 5:00am, altitude 58 degrees, making triangle with Castor and Pollux.
eyepiece map (but for 10" lx200)
