2025 Astro Past Events
Jan 5 Sun - Occultation of a 11.6 by 1998 QM90 from SC and SC Mtns. Good event. Planning and Results Page. Results: Kirk and I both got recordings.Kirk got pos at "the Berm", I at SkyPark had either a miss or a very short event; sent in as 'unsure'.
Jan 6 Mon - I give a talk on nuclear power, to a crowd who's just watched an anti-nuke film "Atomic Bamboozle". Stephen Williams will help here. Pauline Seales has reserved it, at the Louden Nelson Center. My Website with links to SCCAN page recording of our talks
Jan 6, Mon - Occultation of a 14.6 Star by 1992 JB2. Through Santa Cruz. Lasts over 1 sec so maybe with integration it's do-able. Planning and Results page. Results: I rushed home from my talk, only had time to iPhone photo the C2A quick page, which was not properly image reversed, and was unable to ID the field in time. I got no data. Kirk got a positive. Karl did not try as it was too far away.
Jan 9 Thur eve - Plieades occultation on gibbous moon at sunset. Graze of a 6.8 star near Davenport sun -6. Planning and Results page. Results: I drove to the Cemex Cement Plant north of Davenport and got a 4 event graze in bright twilight skies, then rushed home to get the Luthera event. Recorded, saved, unreduced graze.
Jan 9 Thur eve 7:53pm - Occultation of a 13.9 Star by Luthera, Alt=58, Az=80. Dur=6.8s. Wide path includes all of our team, best is Karl. Planning and Results Page. Results: I got a ~5s positive from the east side of the Twin Gates bike crossing. Kirk recorded from home, and Karl from home. Karl's unable to see the target on his tape; too tough.
Jan 10 Fri eve -Occultation of a 12.1 Star by Floirac from Santa Cruz and south of Watsonville. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I got recordings, I got a 3.5 sigma short event. Kirk got 0.5s event. Looks like a binary star with only one component occulted. DaveG posted a YouTube analysis.
Jan 11 Sat morn 1:30:07am - Occultation of a W=14.0 Star by 2000 AN60, from Santa Cruz. Alt=26, Az=291 12d right of Plieades. 23 deg from moon. 1.1s duration. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I got recordings, I from Monte Rd, he from home. Both of us got either a miss or just "too tough".
Jan 12 Sun morn 1:04am - Occultation of a W=13.7 Star by 2002 RH21, from Santa Cruz. Planning and Results page. Results: I observed from home, got a recording. Very faint, most consistent with a miss. Moon 37 degrees away and sky bright, but mostly the star was just bloody faint and the duration only 0.6s didn't allow long integrations. I went with 8x, detected 0.32s positive. Kirk got a short positive.
Jan 13 - Mon eve. Occultation of Mars at opposition, on full moon. Video opportunity again. at Alt=8 and 17 deg. Results: KIrk and I got imaging from the Pogonip Overlook at UCSC. I got video of D and R and other shots. Kirk got video of the R.
Jan 13 - Mon eve. Occultation of a 12.0 Star by Ikeda. Moon only 20 deg away. Lasts 0.7 Alt=47, Az 122, but must be at Natural Bridges to have decent shot at a positive. Kirk on northern limit. Karl no. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a solid miss at foot of Natural Bridges drive near West Cliff. Kirk had align troubles and not on target for his recording, at entrance to Long Marine Lab. Path not close to Karl.
Jan 13 - Mon 11pm - Occultation of an W=11.5 star by 2001CP17, from northern Santa Cruz, including Empire Grade, not for Karl. Planning and Results page . Results: I observed from Ocean St. Extension at the cemetery. Got a good recording at 2x. Kirk and I both got a 'miss'.
Jan 14 - Comet G3 ATLAS - Perihelion and the day after; best days to try to get a photo. Pix page
Jan 14 - Tue morn 12:48am - Occultation of a 12.8 Star by Aralia, from all of SC and SC Mtns. 7.0s duration. Alt=25 Az 297 in NW, in Triangulum. Planning and Results page. Results: I observed from the Westlake Park, off High St. I was at the dam end on south side of the lake, 20 ft from extension of the dam where it intersects the St. I got a 6.3s positive. Karl got a 3s positive from water-truck turn, Kirk got it from home.
Jan 15 Wed morn 1:29am - Occultation of a W=12.3 Star by 1999 RJ32 from Santa Cruz. Alt=22, Az=105. Planning and Results page . Results: I got a 1.3s event from home, Kirk got 0.7s event.
Jan 15 Wed eve 8:51:25pm - Occultation of a W=12.1 Star by (8409) Valentaugustus, from Santa Cruz. Alt=36, Az=253. I will plan for Twin Gates site. Kirk can get from home OK. Karl is close enough to the northern limit to be worth trying as even a miss will be helpful. Be sure to include the fact that only 20min later is another good event from the same location. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I both got positives, I from Twin Gates, he from home.
Jan 15 Wed eve 9:12:23pm - Occultation of a W=13,9 Star by (1254) Erfordia, from Santa Cruz. Faint, but long duration at 3.8s. Alt=60, Az=108. Planning and Results page Results: I got a positive from Twin Gates. Kirk too, from home.
Jan 15 Wed eve 10:52pm - Occultation of a W=12.9 Star by Leungkamcheung, from West Cliff and out in the Bay. Alt=74, Az=164. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording of a miss, from home. No one else tried.
Jan 17 Fri eve 10:41pm - Occultation of an 11.0 Star by 1997 UN10, from Scotts Valley and Sunlit Ln area of Empire Grade. Karl very close to the northern limit. 0.6s duration, Alt=66, Az=194, Orion. Planning and Results page Results: Clouds discouraged Kirk and Karl. I drove up to past Pine Flat on Empire Grade and got a positive, just above the fog.
Jan 18 Sat eve 5:30-9pm - Star Party with Martin Gaskell at Bonny Doon Church. Good evening, had about 35-40 Dooners coming by, including a good number of kids who were really enthusiastic and had a lot of fun. I had the GoTo scope and it had a lot of visitors. Pix Page
Jan 20, 2025 - Mon 12:32:31am - Occultation of an 8.8 Star by 2001 QD35, from north edge of SC, Aptos, Twin Gates. Alt=60, Az=243. Planning and Results page. Only 2.0 min later is Leila! Results: Kirk and I both got recordings, both misses.. Karl did not try; path not close to him.
Jan 20, 2025 - Mon 12:34:31am - Occultation of a W=12.3 Star by Lilaea, from Santa Cruz and SC Mtns at and west of Karl. Planning and Results page. Alt=31, Az=265. Results: Karl and I got data, Kirk couldn't ID target in time, from the tight 2min gap after 2001 QD35.
Jan 21, 2025 - Tue eve 8:22pm - Occultation of a W=14.3 Star for Karl. Dur=0.6s, would require long integration but could well be detectable. Not worth travel, perhaps, but Karl's near centerline. Also passes between BD airfield and Vick Rd. Rank is mediocre. I will not be trying this very difficult event. Planning page
Jan 21 2025 Tue eve 11:44:30pm - Occultation of a 14.1 star by 2001 QA69, from West Cliff. Alt=67, Az=226. The altitude will be higher prior to the event, so be careful and shove the 8SE all the way up, if you want to use the standard f/3.3 or f/6.3 configuration. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk got a 0.53s positive, is our only data. I had electrical connection trouble with VTI, did not fix in time, no data.
Jan 22 2025 Wed eve 7:14:26pm - Occultation of an 11.8 star by Morgado, from SC lighthouse and La Selva. Natural Bridges just inside path too. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I both got positives; I from the SC lighthouse, Kirk from Nat Bridges area.
Jan 23 Thur eve 8:06:48pm - Occultation of a W=13.5 Star by Asteroid 2000 AZ234, from Santa Cruz. Alt=36. Not visible for Karl. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording from home of a 0.4s event, Kirk from UCSC a miss. Karl outside path.
Jan 23 Thur eve 9:13pm - Occultation of a 13.0 star by Asteroid 2001 FT163, from UCSC and Ocean St extension. Not visible for Karl. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk got on target. But for me, the high 74 degree altitude did not allow good pointing, despite careful 2-star align. I was not able to ID field, no data. Karl outside path.
FLEX:
Jan 27 Mon 2-4pm - Program Plan workshop Rm 322 you need to do since '25/26 is your year. (reg'd, signed in)
Jan 29 Wed 3-5pm - CTC Welcome, Rm 1400 (reg'd signed in)
Jan 30 - 1:30pm-2pm meeting with Alice F at CfAO
Jan 30 Thur 4-6pm- Reception for FGSS Grants winners, including you. (reg'd, and VRC stamped)
Jan 30 -
you'll have to duck out early to get to dinner with Alice Friedemann and Sandy Faber
Jan 30 Thur 6pm at Leili's on 101 Cooper St, with Alice F, Sandy Faber et al. dinner.
Jan 31 Fri- 9-11:30am NAS Div Day (signed in)
Jan 31 Fri- 2-4pm Astro Dept meeting (not yet reg'd as external)
Feb 4 Tue - 1:45-2:45 at Welcome Table NAS (sat in the rain!)
Mar 21 Fri 1-3pm - ProgPlan meeting.
Jan 28 8:20pm - Occultation of a 13.4 Star by Sterken, from Santa Cruz (not Karl), 1.1s dur, 74 alt due south. Near Crab Nebula. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I tried, but too tough at high altitude. Karl not in path. No data.
Jan 28 Tue 11:06pm - Occultation of an 11.1 Star by 2000 CN1 from Ann Pike's place. My place on northern limit. Planning and Results page . Results: I got a recording from home. Kirk could not ID star field in time. Not visible for Karl.
Jan 29 Wed eve 11:44:37pm - Occultation of a 13.4 by 2001 RK118, Karl's just inside northern limit. Not through SC. 0.6s dur. Alt=68, Az 240 Gemini. Tough on such a faint star. Planning and Results page. Results: Only Karl tried this. Very short possible single point occultation, but significance is low.
Jan 30 Thur 8:20:23pm - Occultation of an 11.5 Star by Hildburg, from Santa Cruz and Karl would have to drive to Camp Loma to get inside path. Dur=2.1s, Alt=65, Az=100. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I got data, I from home. Unreduced.
Feb 5/6 - Wed eve near midnight; Plieades occultation on 60+ moon. Pix page
Feb 7 Fri 10:23pm - Occultation of a W=13.0 star by Ispahan, from Capitola and Cabrillo, Aptos. Planning and Results page. Results: At Hort Center at Cabrillo, I did not get data, ran out of time. Kirk got a 2s event.
Feb 7 Fri 10:30:45pm - Occultation of a W=10.7 Star by 2004 JM17, from Cabrillo College. Planning and Results page . Results: At Hort Center, at Cabrillo College, I failed to ID field, no data.
Feb 8 Sat eve 7:54:53pm - Occultation of a 12.0 star by 1997 AV5, from Freedom/Hwy 1. Planning and Results page. Results: Got recording, unreduced.
Feb 9 Sun morn 12:41:30am - Occultation of a 13.9 th mag star by the possible binary Centaur 2010 WG9 in California somewhere. or else in the South Pacific. Planning and Results page Results: Very faint at 16x in a very bright sky, My light curve says "miss", but a 1/4s event possible. No data from Kirk or Karl
Feb 9 Sun morn 2:07am - Occultation of an 11.7 Star by Feronia. Visible from home for all of Team Santa Cruz. 6.2s duration, Alt=20, Az=130. Planning and Results page Results: Observed from Sunlit Ln at airfield. Got positive, as did Kirk and Karl.
Feb 9 Sun morn 2:47:04am - Occultation of an 11.0 combined star by Alinda. From Vick Rd, Scotts Valley, and Happy Valley elementary. Not SC. Planning and Results page Results: Got recording from Vick Rd, unreduced
Feb 9 Sun morn 3:14:10am - Occultation of an R=8.0 Star by 2000 AW13, from Vick Rd. alt=49, Az=289 in west. Planning and Results Page. Results: Got a short positive from Vick Rd. Kirk got recording too.
Feb 15 Sat eve 7:57:58pm - Occultation of a W=13.2 Star by Asteroid Shouichi, from Santa Cruz. High rank, Dur=4.7s, Misses Karl, but Sandy, Kirk and I are well within the path. Long duration means it's a good prospect for moonlet hunting and accurate specification of the shape. Planning and Results page
Feb 17 Mon eve 9:42pm - Occultation of a 13.3 Star by (263) Dresda, at Karl's, wide path. long duration 4.7s. Good event. Maybe all of us get together there early for planning, socializing, then de-bark for the occultation? Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I got long positives from Mtn Charlie Monument (me) and Garth's (KB). Karl probably successful too.
Feb 20 Thur eve 6:57pm - Occultation of a 13.8 star by 2000 HP41, with north side Santa Cruz city inside southern limit. Twin Gates and "the Berm" better and Carriage Acres on Old SJ Rd. , and Karl's nicely inside the path on the north side, too. Duration = 1.2s. Could be a well observed event if weather is good. Alt=58, Az=86 in Gemini. Planning and Results page
Feb 20 Thur eve 7:31:54pm - Occultation of a 13.5 star by 1997 AU12, from Santa Cruz. Only 34 minutes after the 2000 HP41 event. And the northern limit of this is identical to the southern limit of the 2000 HP41 event 34 minutes earlier! This one is brighter, but shorter. Tough choice. I will ponder. Two events of the 3 are nicely seen from Cabrillo Observatory, the 3rd, in the middle, is too far north to see from Cabrillo. Planning and Results page.
Feb 20 Thur eve 9:18:52pm - Occultation of a W=13.0 star by 2000 RT8, from Cabrillo Hort Hill (or Graham Hill halfway to Felton if fog?). Alt=54. Planning and Results page Results: I got a 0.800s event from Cabrillo Observatory.
Feb 20 Thur eve 10:02:49pm - Occultation of a 13.7 Star by 1999 TB296, from Santa Cruz. Dur=1.2s Alt=75, Az=209. Get from WillowBrook Park, behind the Cabrillo Fitness Club, if no fog. You have to be at Cabrillo to meet Sandy for gear transfer anyway and for the 2000 RT8 event 44 minutes before this event. At best you can pack and get to here, from the Observatory or from Hort Hill more likely Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk got a positive from home. I travelled from Cabrillo Observatory to a freeway frontage rd and set up, but too hard to ID field of this overhead event given the crush of time, only 40 minutes after the 2000RT8 event.
Feb 21 Fri morn 5:01am - Occultation of an 11.6 Star by Trojan Asteroid Hektor. Looks to miss us, but we might get it's satellite. Alt=24, Az=271. Planning and Results page. Only Kirk tried this sleep killer among the clouds. Looks like a miss.
Feb 21 Fri eve 9:21pm - Occultation of a 13.4 star by (59680) 1999 JW102, from Natural Bridges. Alt=35, Az=254 in Taurus. Dur=0.4s. Cabrillo College is inside the 1-sigma zone on the north side. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a 0.32s positive from foot of Natural Bridges Rd. Kirk got a maybe single drop positive from home.
Feb 21 Fri eve 10:57pm - Occultation of a 12.3 Star by () 2005EM118 - from Scotts VAlley. Alt=59. Threads between SC and Karl. But Karl's on the edge of the 1-sigma zone so observing is worthwhile.. Planning and Results page Results: I got a 0.24s positive from Canham Rd, SV.
Feb 21 Fri eve 8pm - Occultation of a 15.8 star by Eioneus - Planning and Results page Results: No data, bad planning.
Feb 23 Sun 10:17pm - Occultation of a W=12.9 Star by new binary asteroid Martschmidt from Santa Cruz area. Planning and Results page. Results: Successful recording by me, Kirk, and Bernard, from near Helm, CA in central valley. Sandy had gear trouble with us. Karl tried from Cabrillo - solid clouds.
Mar 2 Sun eve - Star Party for the public at Hort Hill to see all the planets at one time; Mercury to Neptune. If weather forecast stays good.. Planning and Results Page Results: We had half dozen students on a blustery cloudy/clear night. But we did get to see all the planets, except Saturn which set too soon behind a cloud bank on the western horizon.
Mar 9 Sun eve 11:55pm - Occultation of an 11.8 Star by 2000 WS38, from SC Mtns. Planning and Results page. Results: I drove Kirk and I near the Summit. Kirk got a solid positive, I forgot camcorder gear and got no data. Karl got a recording as well.
Mar 17: Mon eve 8:22:30pm - Occultation of a 12.9 Star by Argentina. South of our sites but we can still look for moonlets IF you are confident you can swing to 2000 SJ276 fast and accurately. Planning and Results page Results: Sandy rained out. Kirk, Bernard, and I got data; misses probably.
Mar 17: Mon eve 8:31:06pm - Occultation of a W=12.9 Star by 2000 SJ276, from south of San Lucas. Inside path of Centaur 2013 LU28 which is 29 minutes later. Planning and Results page Results: I, Sandy, Kirk, and Bernard tried from San Lucas. Only I got data, others rained out.
Mon Mar 17: Mon eve 9:59:57pm PDT. Occultation of a W=14.0 mag star by KBO object 2013 LU28, from Bradley. OWc page. High value target, has ~25 observers already sited. Van H is now reserved for us. Planning and Results page Results: Bernard rained out, Sandy power failure from undersized plug, Kirk and I got positives, near Bradley.
Mar 22 - Occultation of a 14.0 Star by 2000LP35, from Santa Cruz. Alt=28, Az=282 in Taurus just below Plieades. Planning and Results page
Mar 22 - Occultation of a 13.2 combined by Asteroid Jovita, from all of Santa Cruz county. Planning and Results page . Results: I got a definite long positive. So did Karl and Kirk.
Mar 24, 2025 - Mon eve 8:57:49pm - Occultation of a W=11.7 Star by 2001 SU69. Through Scotts Valley, Happy Valley, Alt=39, Az=106 in Leo. Planning and Results page. Results: From entrance to Henry Cowell on Graham Hill Rd, I ID'd the field in the eyepiece, and completely failed to ID stars on the Watec chip. I do not know why.
Mar 24, 2025 - Mon eve 10:03:46pm - Occultation of a 13.1 Star by Asteroid 2000 GN93. Karl near centerline. Too far north for SC. Planning and Results page. Results: I was unable to ID the field of this high-alt target, in either the eyepiece or Watec chip, from Mtn Charlie Monument. Time pressed. Karl says a miss from centerline.
Mar 26, 2025 - Wed morn 1:19:21am - Occultation of a 10.6 star for 6s by Eurynome - from all of SC and SC Mtns. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a successful 5s occ from end of Pine Ridge, barely above the fog. Kirk got similar from Sunlit Lane.
Mar 31 Mon eve 9pm- Graze of 4.7 mag Epsilon Arietis, 1.3" 5.1+5.6 double star, from Livermore area. Good profile, Skies may be clear spot in partly cloudy passages. See Dunham's posts on IOTA Message board. This is after my Dr appt, I may or may not be wanting to do this. It looks like only 1 component will be doing lots of events. Results: Kirk was willing, if clear, but clouds and local rain convinced me to abandon.
Apr 3 Thur eve 8:32pm- Occultation of an 11.5 Star by 2001 XY26, from Natural Bridges and La Selva, but Santa Cruz and Aptos possible too, given the wider 1-sigma limits. Carbonera?? Maybe.... Dur=0.3s, rank not great. Worth a try because it's close and bright, Planning and Results page
Apr 3 Thur eve 10:52pm - Occultation of a 12.0 Star by asteroid 1032 T2, Karl on centerline. Radonich Ranch good too, and nearby. Movie night if clear? Planning and Results page
Apr 5 Sat - give talk at SJAA Hough Park, on Asteroid astronomy . Community Outreach Page , and SJAA announcement page
Apr 5 Sat eve 9pm - Occultation of a 9.6 star by Lassovsky. At good altitude in west, with Karl inside the shadow, path parallels Summit Rd. Planning and Results page. Results: Only Karl recorded this; and got a miss.
Apr 9 Wed eve - Occcultation of a 13.8 star by TNO Asteroid 2012 YF12. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I both got noisy probable misses from Pine Ridge and the Berm.
Apr 18-20 Fri-Sun: Astro 27 at Laguna Mtn, Pinnacles: Result: great weather, big class, went well. Photo page
Apr 21 Mon eve 11:58pm - Occultation of a 11.8 Star by 2000 RO19, from Empire Grade above fog. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk got a positive at the Eco Reserve in BD. I did not try.
Apr 22 Tue 11:58:56pm - Occultation of a 13.8 Star by 2000 SU41. North of Santa Cruz city, south of Karl, Cabrillo Observatory near centerline, but fog threatens. Alt=59 in Virgo. Planning and Results page. Results: I did not try it, Karl clouded out.
Apr 29 - Tue morn 1:30am - Occultation of a 12.5 Star by 2001 RX64, for just north of Karl. HogBack would work. Karl's is just inside the 1-sigma zone. Alt=28, Az=169 in Libra. Planning Results page. Results: Karl got a miss. Only observer.
Apr 30 - Wed eve 11:12:11pm - Occultation of a 11.0 Star by 1997 LO3 from Loma Prieta. Maybe a Wed eve movie night followed by a caravan up Loma Prieta? Above fog, bright and easy, but short. 0.2s, Alt=40, Az=262 in Cancer. High rank, low odds from Karl's home but not impossible. Hogback and north inside the path. Planning and results page. Results: I got a 0.13s positive, Kirk and Karl had misses from just south of me, all on Loma Prieta Peak area.
May 4 Sun eve 8:42pm - Occultation of a 10.7 Star by asteroid Jose, from home and anywhere in BD to escape fog. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a positive from home, 1.15s. Kirk got a suspicious double occultation?
May 4 Sun eve 10:21pm - Occultation of a 13.5 star by asteroid 1999XD179, from north of Santa Cruz. Alt=57, Az=163 Virgo. Poor rank. I may drive to up Branciforte, or I might just try from home. Planning and Results page Results: I recorded from home, clear miss. Kirk from Eco Reserve.
May 5 Mon eve 10:27:57pm - Occultation of an 11.6 star by 2000 EV92. From coastal Santa Cruz and Watsonville, mid Monterey Bay. Not SC Mtns. Planning and Results page Results: I got a recording from Nat Bridges. Kirk tried with Astrid from home, but did not get set up in time.
May 8 Thur eve 9:30:46pm - Occultation of a 13.7 Star by Komika, from Santa Cruz. Alt=13 in the east. Tough! Similar path as these next two. Planning and Results page Results:I got a recording, but likely too faint and sky too bright at this 13 degree altitude to get anything usable.
May 8 Thur eve 9:53:47pm - Occultation of an 11.8 Star by 2002 XJ86, from Santa Cruz. Dur=0.2s, Alt=39, Az=256 in Cancer. Planning and Results page Results; I got a recording, so did Kirk. Kirk got a posotive, says PyOTE.
May 8 Thur eve 10:23pm - Occultation of a 12.5 Star by Dato, from Santa Cruz, Dur=1.4s. Alt=41, Az=139 in Virgo. I set up on Llama Ranch Lane. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording, so did Kirk.
May 10 Sat eve at 9:51pm - Occultation of a 13.9 Star for 0.8s by 2001ST200. Karl's place is on centerline. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk, Karl and I all got recordings from "The Rock" at Karl's. I had a very tentative 0.32s positive 4.5s early. Playback on Karl's indicated a possible double occultation about on-time, Kirk did not see an event. It may well have been a noisy miss for all of us.
May 17 - Sat eve 11:09pm - Occultation of a 12.4 Star by 2001 XZ192 from north side of Santa Cruz and Aptos. Planning and Results page Results: I recorded from corner of Ponderosa and Rolling Woods off Graham Hill Rd. Unreduced. Kirk did not try. Bernard got a single integration drop at right time (0.2s integrations) from southern limit. My results will be useful there; but not reduced yet.
May 18 - Sun eve 9:30pm - Occultation of a 10.6 star by Libitina, from Santa Cruz, Alt=35, Az=268. Planning and Results page . Results: Karl got a short positive from home. He was the only observer.
May 21 - Wed morn 12:40am ? - Occultation of a 15.7 Star by the rings of Quaoar. The path is north of us, but the ring might be do-able in a dark sky in BD? 62s duration for Quaoar itself but we do not have a chance at that. The calc's I've made on the planning page say this event is too dim to be possible. Planning and Results page Results: Bernard and I got data at Cabrillo Observatory 12" and Bernard on our 10" f/4. Unlikely to be able to detect anything from our recordings.
May 22 - Thur eve 10:45pm - Occultation of a 12.4 Star by 1999 JP14 - from Lockwood, CA Planning and Results page. Results: Only Kirk got data, from our team. Almost certainly a miss.
May 23 - Fri morn 12:24am - Occultation of a W=5.5 Star by Asteroid Johnpenna - from Jolon Rd near Lake San Antonio. Planning and Results page. Results: I, Kirk, Bernard all got recordings, from Interlake Rd near Lake San Antonio. Solid occultation, but need edge/on/disk reduction, which I've not tackled. Square Wave not good method in this case. Star was too big for that. Not reduced and not sent in to IOTA. I also promised IOTA I'd document the steps in doing this type of analysis, so I hesitate to take it on till I have a bigger unschedule block of time.
May 25 Sun - 9:35pm - Occultation of a 10.0 Star by 2001UM23, from south of Moss Landing. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I ended up at the same spot, on the centerline, on Molera Rd west of Castroville. Kirk had a fairly clear miss. I had too much wind, especially right at event time. Purple heart for me. Kirk gets a legit miss.
May 31 Sat 1:56:45am - Occultation of a Plutino KBO 2007JH43, of a Rp=15.3 Star in Scorpius. Good odds at 39%. 15s duration. Worth a go for this high value event. Kirk and I will try from Bonny Doon; me at the end of PineRidge, Kirk at the Eco Reserve. Planning and Results page. Kirk and I and maybe Bernard all got recordings - probably lost in noise. At TwinGates and EcoReserve.
May 31 Sat 2:38am - Occultation of a 13.3 star by Hokutosei from Santa Cruz. Dur=8.4s, Alt=22 Az=146; do from home. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I both got recordings from Twin Gates and EcoReserve.
Jun 2 Mon 10:53:36pm - Occultation of a 13.3 Star by 1996 PM9, from Scotts Valley. Alt=29, Az=129. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I tried it; me from Canham Rd, Kirk from Glenwood. I decided it was quite do-able at 8x, but that would only have given a max of 2 points inside the occultation. Both of us were clouded out despite mostly clear skies.
Jun 5 - Thur morn 12:29am - Occultation of a W=13.28 Star by asteroid Tama, from the SC Mtns Scotts Valley and north. Karl's inside the path on south side. Alt=19, Az=144 just above Nunki. This asteroid has a moon roughly 9km across, or about 75% of the diameter of the primary, so it should give an occultation up to 1s long too. This should be a high-value event to target. Planning and Results page.
Jun 8 Sun morn 1:34am - Occultation of a W=12.3 star by Asteroid 1986 QZ, from Santa Cruz Mtns. Alt=33, Az=169 in Sagittarius. Dur=0.7s. Will try from Karl's. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk, Karl and I all got recording along the HogBack/Loma Prieta Rd area.
Jun 10 Tue eve 11:27pm - Occultation of a W=13.1 Star by asteroid 2001 YE79, from Scotts Valley, top of Empire Grade, Aptos. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording from Sunlit lane. Karl did too.
Jun 10 Tue eve 11:46pm - Wide path occultation of Euphrosyne. Includes MIRA near centerline, Santa Cruz is well inside, so is Ted Swift. Planning and Results page. Dur=30s. Full moon night. Results. I got a clear positive on a long occultation from Sunlit lane.
Jun 12 Thur morn 1:48am - Quaoar occultation of 15.5 star across Central California. Including MIRA, and the northern limit nominally crosses over Karl. 47s duration. But 99% moon only 14 degrees away (!). Alt=38, Az=south. Long integration to get this faint star will be perhaps impossible with such a bright moon so close. Remove f/3.3 reducer and maybe it'll work?? Planning and Results page. Results. Kirk, and I tried. Kirk got a recording on 8SE, I failed due to battery power loss on the 14" Celestron EdgeHD of Nelson - all at MIRA's OOS Chews Ridge. Wind was a killer too. No data.
June 16 Mon morn 2:00:05am - Occultation of an 8.7 Star by Asteroid Gaussia. Bright easy occultation for all of the SC team. Dur=5.8s. Planning and Results page Results: Karl, Bernard, Kirk and I all got positives. Me from home.
Jun 16 Mon eve 11:17:25pm - Occultation of a 9.8 Star by Emita. Entire SC and SC Mtns inside the shadow. Dur=6.2s, Alt=31, Az=237 in Virgo. Planning and Results page. Results: Clear skies, got got positives. Unreduced as yet. I was at Ocean St extension.
Jun 17 Tue eve 10:55pm - Occultation of a 8.4 mag star by Madeline - from Santa Cruz and SC Mtns. All of "team santa cruz" inside the path of this bright event. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I got positives, I from Llama Lane, Cave Gulch. Got test footage of Quaoar. Kirk was at entrance to Long Marine Lab.
Jun 20 Fri eve 10:00:15pm - Occultation of a W=11.9 Star by 2000 SL45 from Scotts Valley Canham Rd is OK, but that spot you once used on Santa's Village Rd is on centerline and so it is better. You could let Kirk use Canham Rd parking lot. Alas, Karl outside path, but wide 1-sigma zone means it's worth a try from his home. This event is only 81 minutes before the Shimizu event, which will require a fast packup and then drive to Pineridge Rd cul-de-sac. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording from Polo Ranch Rd in SV. Kirk got it too.
Jun 20 Fri eve 11:21pm - Occultation of a very red W=11.6 star by Shimizu, from Santa Cruz and SC Mtns. Wide path includes Karl. I will plan to try from Pine Ridge. The star is only about 5 degrees from Quaoar. I will plan for more test footage. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording of about a 2s positive Llama Ln in Cave Gulch. Kirk got a positive from Twin Gates.
Jun 24 Tue eve 11:58:47pm - Occultation by Quaoar's Q1R ring of a G=14.9 (OWc page), W=14.57 Star. I and Kirk will be at MIRA which is just inside the ring shadow for ~45s. Planning and Results page. Results: We had perfect skies, and got a 1.23s complete occultation by either a new moonlet or a 3rd Ring of Quaoar. Will warrant a CBET and paper.
Jun 29 Sun afternoon - 6pm Mars misses 24+ moon in late afternoon by just a few arcmin. Graze path steep misses off the coast, would have to go to Baja Results: I did get some photos from my deck. Not great photos, but something anyway. Photos
July 3 - Thur 9:50:02pm - Occultation of a 12.6 Star by 2000GA136 from SC Mtns. Karl inside the path. Rank is not great. 0.4s duration. Alt=18, Az=124 in Sagittarius. Planning and Results page. Results: Karl tried, failed to find the target in time. Me too, from EcoReserve. Kirk did not try.
July 5 - Sat eve 11:19pm - Occultation of a W=13.4 Star by Ulrike south of Paicines. Dur=3.4sm Alt=34, Moon 28d away. The long duration makes this quite do-able and very high likelihood of positives. Although the star will likely need 16x. The interest is that this is just 14 minutes before a very bright occultation in the same location... Planning and Results page Results: I, Kirk, Sandy tried all 3 of this nights events. I had computer trouble, failed on Ulrike. Sandy had pointing troubles. Kirk got a positive
July 5 - Sat eve 11:33pm - Occultation of a W=8.1 Star by asteroid 2001 FC46, from south of Paicines. Dur=0.3s, Alt=46, RUWE=1.40. Odds here are higher of a miss, but the nominal path gives good odds of a hit too, especially if we spread out. I will have the van so I'm OK with doing this longer drive. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recorded miss, as did Kirk. Sandy had pointing troubles.
July 6 - Sun morn 1:30am - Occultation of a W=12.4 Star by 1998 FR178, from Tres Pinos, on drive home from above events Alt=39, Dur=0.7s. Planning and Results page. Results: I wrote the wrong coords on the charts. No data. Kirk used his own charts, got a positive. Sandy had his battery die. No data.
July 11 - Fri eve 11:20pm - Occultation of a 13.6 Star by Poldimeri. Very high rank, through Santa Cruz and SF southbay. Alt=30, Az=120 in Aquarius, SC and Karl and all of us "sure thing" placement. 2.2s duration, but only 19 deg from the gibbous moon. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk, Karl and I all set up at "Water Truck Turn" and all 3 got positives recorded, about 1s long roughly.
July 14 - Mon morn 12:05:13am - Occultation of a very red W=11.7 Star by 2000 CB38 from Scotts Valley, and Karl, and BD airfield. Alt=25, Az=179. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk, Karl and I all got recordings. My 1x recording may fail to reveal the star. Karl at 16x, Kirk at 4x from Sunlit. Me at red realty place on Hwy 17.
July 14 Mon eve 11:39pm - Occultation of a 9.0 Star by asteroid Ballard - from Karl's and parallel to Highland/Summit rds. Alt=43 Az=90. Planning and Results page Results: I set Kirk at the tree farm across from Garth, I drove down to Holy City, and Karl was at home. Karl got a short event. I got a very likely miss, as did Kirk.
July 18 - Fri eve 10:31 pm - Occultation of a W=12.8 Star by Asteroid 1999 RB93. Path includes from Karl down to north edge of Santa Cruz, and all of Empire Grade. KB will try from Quail Hollow. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk, Karl, and I all got recordings; Kirk from Quail Hollow, me from Pineridge, Karl from home
July 21 Sun eve 10:11pm - Occultaton of a 10.6 Star by Caseyvaughn - from Scotts Valley. Planning and Results page. Results. I did a last minute dash to try this one. I judged the tree line would permit a 14 degree altitude at Polo Ranch Rd parking spot. But I parked in the exact wrong spot given the tallest tree growing more than in the Streetview. The target did clear trees and my pointing accuracy seemed to be good as I waited, aiming at M11, M4, M22, etc. But on target, I could not ID the stars and recorded. No data
July 28 - Mon eve 8:57pm - Occultation of an 11.7 star by 2001 DW78, Alt=26, Az=115 in SE. Dur=0.6s. The challenge here will be locating the star in time. It should be bright enough to see in the twilight sky, from my experience. But not by a lot. Swapping out the focal reducer should help the sky, after locating the target. Sun = -8. Karl's near the centerline of this high rank event. I put a site at Pineridge but might instead not drive as far, depending on conditions. Planning and Results page. Results: I tried from home, ID'd field in Watec 4min late. Karl similar.
July 30 - Wed 11:08pm - Occultation of a 12.0 Star by 1999 VK37, from BD, and Karl's on centerline. Alt=33, Az=185. Planning and Results page. Results: I got it from Sunlit Lane, Karl tried as did Kirk.
Aug 2 - Sat eve 10:51pm - Occultation of a 13.3 Star for 2.9s by Dannymeyer. Wide path covers all of SC Mtns, centered on Loma Prieta. Arizona observers are on board, and Y. Liu too. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I got 2s positives, from "The Rock" at Karl's.
Aug 5 - Tue morn 12:05am - Occultaton of a 13.0 Star by 1997 AC8, from Santa Cruz, but poor rank and high RUWE. But if clear, worth a look. Dur=0.4s, Alt=39 in Aquarius Az=145. Planningand Results page. Results: Got data from driveway.
Aug 7 Thur eve 9:12pm - Occultation of a 11.2 Star by 2000 OV50, from Scotts Valley and Aptos. Planning and Results page. Results: I drove, turned around when fog came in and gave up. Kirk got recording in Scotts Valley.
Aug 13 Wed eve 8:57pm - Occultation of a 14.2 Star by xxxx. Results: Kirk got a recording from Scotts Valley after the SCAC Meeting. RN and KvA did not attempt.
Aug 13 Wed eve 9:30pm - Occultation of a 13.7 by Sigelinde, for all of SC and SC mtns. Dur=17.5s, so it's a good one to look for new moonlets. Planning and Results page Results: KB, KvA and I all got data on this long occultation; me from the SC Cemetery.
Aug 15 Fri eve 10:57:49pm - Occultation of a 13.4 Star by Alemannia for all of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Mtns. Dur=13.4s Alt=36, Az=195, Planning and Results page . I recorded at too low a brightness setting and got no usable data. Karl got it. Kirk did not try, was in Yosemite.
Aug 16 Sat 5:30pm - Dinner with East Bay Astronomical Society at Hunan Yuan Restaurant 4100 Redwood Rd Oakland, and then my 7:30pm talk on asteroids at Chabot Science Center
Aug 18 Mon - Occultation of a W=13.6 star by 2000 AG138, from Santa Cruz. Alt=18, Az=212 in Scorpius. Planning and Results page Results: I got a recording from Westlake at 8x. Kirk too. Karl at 16x.
Aug 24 Sun - 11:31pm - Occultation of a 13.0 Combined by Photographica. High rank from all team members in Santa Cruz and northern limit near Yanzhe Liu. Planning and Results page. Results: I tried from Twin Gates; telescope failed to align repeatedly, till too late. No data. Karl got a positive.
Aug 27 Wed eve 9:02pm - Occultation of 12.9 Star by 2001 RX40, Karl on centerline. Also PineRidge and Eco Reserve good, and Sunlit Ln. I must skip; I'm teaching Astro 9ABC at Cabrillo then. Planning and Results page Results: No attempt from me. Kirk and Karl recorded.
Aug 27 Wed eve 9:32pm - Occultation of 13.7 Star by 2001 SU64. Karl inside path. Tough; 0.3s duration. Planning and Results page. Results: No attempt from me.
Aug 27 Wed eve 9:59pm - Occultation of a W=13.0 Star by 1997 CH20, from Cabrillo. Planning and Results page . Results: I got a recording from Cabrillo Observatory. Looks like a miss. Not reduced yet.
Sept 1, 2025 Mon eve at 10:16:35pm - Occultation of a 11.4 Star for 0.5s by 2002 QM42, from Empire Grade and Karl's good too. RUWE=1.85, rank is only "OK". Alt=22, Az=140 in SE in Aquarius. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording. Looks like a miss or too noisy to tell. Karl got a single point dip possible
Sept 5, 2025 at 9:59pm - Occultation of a W=13.6 star for 0.6s by 5206T-2, from Santa Cruz. Alt=26, az=121 in Aquarius. Planning and Results page Results: I look to be the only observer. Got a positive from home.
Sept 11 - Thur eve 8:31pm - Occultation of a W=14.2 Star for 0.6s by Kamishi, from SC Mtns. Alt=39, Az=170 in Sagittarius. Tough, but just 42 min prior to a much better event from the same location on Graham Hill Rd, so why not? Planning and Results page.|
Sept 11 - Thur eve 9:13pm - Occultation of a 11.9 star for 0.2s by 2000 QR135 from Graham Hill Rd (or Twin Gates). Karl just north of northern limit. Alt=21, Az=212. Planning and Results page. Got recording at 2x from off Graham Hill Rd. KB and KvA also got data.
Sept 12 - Fri morn at 1:14:24am - Occultation of a 9.4 Star by 2000 DW97 for 0.6s, from Santa Cruz and SC Mtns. We're all in the path but RUWE=3.95. Alt=11, az=58 in Auriga. Planning page Results: Kirk and I were not far apart, cross track, and both of us got short positives. Karl did not try.
Sept 15 - Mon morn 2;17am - Occultation of a 12.4 Star by binary asteroid Sylvia, for 13.2s from Santa Cruz in wide path. Alt=22 Az=75 so can't do from carport. Hopefully from near home, if not, maybe Westlake. Tough on sleep. Get sleep Sunday in prep for a very long Monday. Planning page. Results: Kirk and I got positives. Karl?
Sept 15 - Mon morn 2:40:38am - Occultation of a 12.3 for 0.7s by 6826 P-L from Santa Cruz. Kirk and I are near centerline. I did not try it, Kirk said he would not either, but wide error limits means I could have tried it from Twin Gates where I got Sylvia.
Sept 15 - Mon eve 11:00:28pm - Occultation of an 11.5 Star for 1.2s by GaiaMoons asteroid (4999) MPC, over SC mtns but with wide limit lines for where the moonlet could be over most of CA. Planning page. Results: Got a solid .88s positive from Lexington Dam.
Sept 21 Sun 8:52:22pm - Occultation of a W=13.3 Star by Analucia. Alt=35, Az=180. From SC Mtns and Pigeon Pt. Planning and Results page Results: A miss from Red Realty place on Hwy 17, and for Karl.
Sept 21 Sun 9:42:43pm - Occultation of a W=13.6 star for 4.8s by Luscinia, wide path from San Jose to King City. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I at Laurel Rd and Red Realty place, both good positives. Karl probably lost in the trees.
Sept 22 Mon eve 10:07pm - Occultation of 15.6 Star by TNO 2010SS43. Planning and Results page. Results: Too little time and timely info to get on target with 12" at Cabrillo after Astro 3-2. Kirk got a positive.
Oct 3 Fri eve - 7:54pm - Occultation of a 7.7 Star by 2005 AG16, from Santa Cruz and Karl's. Planning and Results page. Results: A short 0.16s event from home. Probable new binary star.. KvA and Kirk got recordings.
Oct 4 Sat morn - 1:19:41am - Occultation of a 10.5 Star by Veralynn. Twin Gates, Scotts Valley, and Karl are inside the path. Alt=16, Az=68. Planning and Results page Results: I and Kirk got short positives; me from Twin Gates, Kirk from Skypark in SV.
Oct 4 Sat eve - 8:20pm - Occultation of an 8.1 Star by 1993 UG6 for 0.4s, from Moss Landing. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk carpooled with me. We had to scramble back towards Watsonville to try to avoid the pincer grip of fog crowding the northern limit. We ended up a mile south of Pajaro, barely inside the northern limit, and barely on the edge of the clouds for our target star. We got recordings successfully.
Oct 4 Sat eve - 10:56pm - Occultation of a 12.6 Star by (40199) 1998 SE1, from Santa Cruz. Poor rank. But easy: alt=36, Az=220. Might not be visible from my place. I set a marker at Twin Gates. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording at 4x from PineRidge Rd, Kirk from the Eco Reserve, Karl from home.
Oct 7 Mon eve - 9:55pm - Occultation of star by Croatia. Planning page Results: KB, KvA, me all got long occultations on thie large asteroid.
Oct 11 Sat morn 12:46am - Occultation of a 9.8 Star by 2003 XW25, from Santa Cruz area. Planning page. Results: I got a successful recording.
Oct 14 Tue morn 12am - Occultation of a 10.6 Star by Asteroid (25921) 2001 DS21 - Planning page
Oct 16 Thur morn 1:26:56am - Occultation of a W=12.5 star by asteroid 2000 RT54, from Soquel, Aptos, Karl, and Santa Cruz is inside the 1-sigma zone. Planning and Results page. Results: I tried from home, on Rincon. Looked like a miss.
Oct 17-19 - Fall Astro 25 course. Stanislaus River. Results: Clear skies, great astronomy and astrophotography. Pix to come.
Oct 22 Wed eve at 8pm - Occultation of a 9.8 Star for 2.3s by 2001 TJ182, from Freedom, to Aptos, and Watsonville. Alt=45, Az=147. Planning and Results page. Results: Bernard and Karl got positives. I was at Ay9 indoors. Telescope was left with Sandy, and tipped over and ruined the computer. No data.
Oct 22 Wed 9pm - Occultation by Utsumikazuhiko. Planning page. Results. I did not try, from Ay9 and damaged telescope. Kirk got a positive from hay barn at UCSC. Bernard tried too.
Oct 25 - Sat eve 10:53pm - Occultation of a 9.9 star by NEO Object (98943) Torifune from Big Sur. High value! Bright star! Weekend! This should be a prime target for a Fall trip by Team Santa Cruz. Duration 0.12s is long enough for 1x recording to get a good S/N detection. MIRA- OOS is under repairs, not available. Planning and Results page. Results: Everyone, including Kirk and I, had misses.
Oct 27 - 11:36pm - Occultation of a 7.9 Star by 2000 AE92, from Watsonville and San Andreas Rd. Alt=68, very close to Hamal. I plan to try it but by leaving from Cabrillo College, not from home. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk had a miss, I was on the centerline, but my 8SE scope, damaged by an Ay9 student last Wednesday, would not point accurately and I did not find the target.
Oct 29 - Wed eve- 7:28pm - Occultation of a 11.8 Star by Mastrodemos - Planning and Results page Results: I tried from Cabrillo. Mount trouble foiled, but Kirk got event.
Nov 2 Sun eve 7:32:30pm PST - Occultation of a W=9.2 Star by 1991 PR16, from Cabrillo College and Pleasant Pt on narrow path. 0.1s duration. Planning page. Results: Got a single point occ at right time, with difficulty got PyOTE to recognize it. Bernard, next to me at CabObs, also got it, and Kirk from Moran Lake a strong positive.
Nov 6, Thur 7:02pm - Occultation of a 12.5 Star by Asteroid 1999 TQ248 through Santa Cruz and SC mtns south of Karl. Planning page
Nov 9 - Sun eve 10:50:52pm - Occultation of a 13.6 Star for 0.6s by 2003 YV94, from Santa Cruz. Low rank. But could be detectable. Planning page. Karl and Kirk are also in the 1-sigma range. I will try from home. Results: I tried it from Rincon St, but did not allow enough time to get on-target. No data. Bernard may have gotten something. Not Kirk nor Karl.
Nov 19 - Tue eve 11:33pm - Occultation of a W= star by 2006 PK13. Planning page. Results: I got a successful recording from home carport.
Nov 22 -Sat morn 12:58:13am - Occultation of a W=13.3 star for 0.6s by Asteroid Lagrula, from Karl's place and most of Highland Way. Planning page. Results: Karl and Kirk got positives. I ran out of time.
Nov 22 - Sat night 11:34pm - Occultation of a 13.3 for 0.3s by 2001SM228, from Molera Rd Moss Landing. Difficult for such a short event, I will try it from my Colucci event site given the small window in time to drive. Planning and Results page
Nov 23 - Sun morn 12:10am - Occultation of a 9.5 Star for 0.3s by Colucci, from Jensen Rd south of Watsonville. RUWE=1.5. Alt=14 in Leo. I might try it after astrophotog from Cabrillo Observatory with astro 9ABC students Will, Sandy, and Bernard. Planning and Results page Results: high rank and centerline, but still just a miss.
Nov 23 - Sun eve 8:55:31pm - Occultation of a W=10.5 Star for 2.4s by Mitaka, from Summit/Red Realty area. Karl's on the southern limit. Alt=58, Az=122. Planning and Results page. Results: Got a probable miss recorded from Glenwood drive north of Glenwood Cutoff on Hwy 17.
Nov 23 - Sun eve 10:38pm - Occultation of a W=12.3 star for 0.3s by 1999 XD80, from Pineridge, Karl inside N limit. Planning and Results page. Results: Got a probable 0.3s positive from Pineridge.
Nov 23 - Sun eve 10:54pm - Occultation of a W=12.5 Star for 0.5s by Fichtelman, from Pineridge, Felton. Karl again inside N Limit. Alt=57, Az=82 in Auriga. Path identical to 1999 SD80 14 minutes earlier! Planningand Results page. Results: Got a clear 0.3s positive from Pineridge
Nov 24 - Mon morn 1:24am - Occultation of a 12.0 Star by 2003 SB128, from Santa Cruz. Misses Karl this time, but good for Santa Cruz. Planning and Results page. Results: Looks like a miss, but not reduced yet, from carport.
Nov 25 - Tue eve 11:23:45pm - Occultation of a 12.1 Star for 3.1s by (844) Leontina from Cabrillo Observatory. Possible double attempt with Jordan from CabObs. Planning and Results page. Results: I tried from Cabrillo Obs, but Astro 8A responsibilties made it impossible to get target on-scope in time. No data. Kirk tried it too.
Nov 29 Sat eve 9:06pm - Occultation of a 12.6 star for 0.5s by 1999 TC37, from Monterey Bay and south of Castroville. Poor rank. But will try from Cabrillo Observatory where I have some re-configuring of the dome scope to do. Might be able to get it from the 12" if successful in time. Planning and Results page. Results: I did get a recording from just outside the dome building. Looked like a miss, at 4x. Kirk got recording too.
Nov 30 Sun eve 5:51pm - Occultation of a 13.9 combined for 3.4s by Helga. Drop=1.0 mag. All of our homes are inside the path. Alt=29, Az=205 sun=-12 deg. in Capricorn. Good to try from Cabrillo Observatory. Planning page. I decided not to try this. Too hard. Kirk and Karl did try, but for both, the S/N was too poor to make a judgement.
Dec 1 Mon eve 11:19pm - Occultation of a 12.0 Star by Alikoski - from coastal Santa Cruz. Planning and Results page. I got a recording at entrance to Natural Bridges. A miss.
Dec 5 Fri morn 1:30am - Occultation of a 12.4 star for 1.0s by Minitti, from Santa Cruz north past Summit. Alt=62, Az=197 in Orion. Planning and Results page. Restuls: Got a 1/2s event from driveway 1/3 mi north of "the Berm". Kirk at Twin Gates.
Dec 5 Fri eve 6:56pm - Occultation of W=12.6 Star for 22s by Psyche. Santa Cruz just inside north limit. Combined mag 9.6. Drop only 0.06 mag in red! Would require long integrations and very low gain setting to avoid any saturation, which would be fatal to a detection. looks like about 5-7s duration for here. 17 deg from full moon too. Try 8x integration and adjust low gain to minimize saturated pixels. Planning and Results page Results: I got a probable detection from foot of driveway. Kirk, Karl also recorded.
Dec 5 Fri eve 10:52:46pm - Occultation of a W=12.0 Star by 1998 VO6, from Karl, BD. Alt=20, Az=257. South limit at Twin Gates. Planning and Results page
Dec 6 Sat eve - 8:27:07pm - Occultation of a W=13.3 Star by Asteroid (10004) Igormakarov. From Mar Monte on narrow path. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording and possible single integration event at precise time, but noisy and meets NIE at only 2-sigma. Not sure how to file this.
Dec 6 Sat eve 5:30-9pm - Holiday party w/ Track Club friends at Beer Mule 45 Aviation Way, Watsonville.
Dec 7 Sun eve 8:03pm - Occultation of a 11.9 Star by 1999WF, from Soquel and maybe Pleasure Pt. Dur=0.2s, RUWE=3.95. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording at Cabrillo Observatory on 8SE.
Dec 7 Sun eve 9:17:16pm - Occ of W=14.1 for 1.4s by Makharadze through SC, cabrillo, and Karl. Planning and Results page . Results: tried to use the 12" Dome scope for its first asteroid event. But, w/ or w/o 0.5x reducer, it refused to focus. No data. Kirk got a recording, v faint, unknown if detectable on 8SE.
Dec 7 Sun eve 11:12:51pm - Occultation of a W=11.7 star for 1.1s by Asteroid Weisse Rose. Wide path includes all of Santa Cruz and Aptos. Karl's just north of the path and tight 1-sigma zone, but worth a try anyway. Bright and easy. Planning and Results page. Results: I could not ID the field. Kirk and Karl got data.
Dec 8 Mon morn 2am - Occultation of a W=13.1 star by triple asteroid Sylvia. 0.3 mag drop. Alt=76. Includes Santa Cruz. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk got a double occultation, apparently a binary star. I decided I needed sleep more, and did not try it, also discouraged from the high-alt failure of WeisseRose at 11pm.
Dec 11 Thur eve 8:30pm - Occultation of a 11.8 combined by Circe, drop=0.5 mag for 13s. Alt=20, Az=86. Wide path includes everyone from Cupertino to Monterey. Planning and Results page
Dec 12 Fri 9-11am - SLO zoom session Join Zoom Meeting https://cabrillo-edu.zoom.us/j/88113206791
Dec 12 Fri eve 9:55pm - Occultation of a 12.2 Star for 2.2s by Pinotti, from Santa Cruz. Karl and Aptos not in path. Poor rank. Alt=58. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk got 2 misses, incl w/ Astrid at home. I got a miss too.
Dec 13 Sat morn at 12:22am - Occultation of a star by Jupiter satellite Elara from Santa Cruz area. I will try this tonight probably from home unless the predictions say the OWc path is pretty accurate, in which case I will drive to a better spot. Northern limit through Santa Cruz. Planning and Results page Results: Success from Karl and Kirk. I was unable to ID target in time. Pointing accuracy is poor on this 8SE. Got recording, not on target.
Dec 13 Sat eve 9pm - Geminids meteor shower photography at Karl's. Pix page
Dec 16 Tue 6:08pm - Occultation of a 12.2 combined Star for 1.0s by 2000 LO19, from Santa Cruz. Drop=1.0, Alt=17 in Taurus. Planning and Results page Results: I got a recording of a miss from Holy Trinity Church at the Mission. I was the only observer.
Dec 18, Thur 10:13pm - Occultation of a W=12.2 Star by Hylak. From coastal Santa Cruz only. Planning and Results Page. Results: I got a 0.5s positive at the entrance to Natural Bridges just off West Cliff. Kirk got a positive from end of Delaware St.
Dec 27 Sat morn at 12:33am - Occultation of a 12.4 for 0.5s by Magnanimity. From Glenwood, and right over Karl. Alt=60, Az=154. RUWE=3.95 (poor). Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording from home; miss. Karl lost track of target before recording started. Kirk did not try.
Dec 28 Sun eve at 6:10:18pm - Occultation for 0.3s of a W=11.3 Star by Danielbetten. From Watsonville. Alt=29 in NE, about 5 deg right of El Nath. You can get in the field by GoTo NGC 1802 an open cluster. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I got this near Trafton Rd/ Pajaro River, with positives.
Dec 29 Mon eve at 6:03pm - Occultation of an 11.3 by Czechoslovakia; from Aptos to Boulder Creek. Alt=35, Az=67 in Auriga. 2.4s dur. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk got a 1.5s pos from Moran Lake. Same for me at Cabrillo College. Event happened behind a tree for Karl.
Dec 29 Mon eve at 6:46pm - Occultation of a 7.1 mag star by Troja, from Lighthouse Field, or Cabrillo. Karl not in path. Alt=64, Az=124 in Aries. Good rank, good RUWE. Looks like a very photogenic event. I will try from Cabrillo Observatory most likely, if clear. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a brief occultation at event moment. Kirk got a longer positive from Moran Lake. A new double star discovery for us. DH will include in new paper. No data from Karl.
Dec 29 Mon eve at 11:50:23pm - Occultation of a 12.4 Star for 1.6s by Asteroid 1997 YO. Through Santa Cruz. Can get from home. Misses Karl. Planning and Results page. Kirk and I both got misses.
Dec 30 Tue morn at 12:18am - Occultation of a 14.2 Star for 2.2s by Lellouch, Alt=51, Az=239 in Taurus. from SC down to Castroville. Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I both got misses.
