This combined image will drop from 9.13 to 9.62 magnitude for up to 15 secondshe 9.2 combined magnitude and the 10.2 star will make good signal to noise so we can still do short integrations. The odds of a hit in Santa Cruz are pretty much a "sure thing". However, it's close to the end of twilight so target finding will have to be efficient.
Here's more information from David Dunham
The possible satellite is based on a visual observation from a reliable visual observer way back in 1978 before the digital era, but this sighting was the only one for this satellite and since no asteroids were known or expected to have "moons" way back then, only the experience occultation observers gave it credibility. Alas, this is where this unresolved situation still remains. So this is an important event if we can get a good blanket of observers. The main asteroid is 200km across, corresponding to 15 seconds of time. So if the satellite is up to "a few hundred" km away and the general rule is to go 10 diameters to insure getting any gravitationally bound moons, then that's 150 second on either side, or 2.5 minutes. Say 3 minutes before and after, or starting taping at 9:26pm and ending at 9:32:20pm. Since Kirk Bender and I will be close together, in this case that's a good thing because if the satellite crosses one of us, it has a good chance of crossing the other as well. Spreading far apart in this case is not the most scientifically valuable thing to do.
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Results
Good success from both Kirk and I. We had to run from the advancing fog and set up barely in time at our respective spots, but in the end all the data was there. Strong twinkling as the star was 20 degrees and we were close to the convective tops of the strato-cumulus clouds layer. Very noisey, but we had 15 second events and showed positive occultation depths of 0.39 for me and similar for Kirk. Derek also got it, from Morgan Hill, which translated to being on a track that crossed WestCliff, a few km south of us.
My observing site, across from the volunteer fire station |
Screen capture of my LiMovie set up |
My full 6 minutes of data |
LiMovie, zoomed in on just the occultation. |
I was just north of Kirk by a few hundred meters, by accident of our mad rush to get above the fog. |
The standard "Hero shot" |
PyOTE log for Nolthenius (thanks, Tony)
Kirk retreated to the dirt parking lot of the Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve on Martin Rd, near Moon Rocks.
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PyOTE log for Kirk Bender (thanks, Tony) and his LiMovie CSV file
Kirk and I were very close in the cross-track direction, just a few hundred meters. I think it's a result of the small dip and intense scintillation noise that our timings are different. However, I also wonder if my times need 2 seconds added to them??
RN D: 4:28:58.6 R 4:29:13.96
KB D: 4:28:59.1 R 4:29:16.85
