2026 Astro Past Events
Jan 6 Tue eve 6:00:00pm - Occcultation of a W=12.5 for 0.7s Star from Santa Cruz. I'm on centerline. Alt=25, Az=49 in Lynxx. Sun= -10. I will have to set up on at Holy Cross Church parking lot. Planning and Results page
Jan 6 Tue eve 11:23pm - Occultation of a 12.1 Star by Asteroid 1999 TT15, from Santa Cruz. Rank is not great, try from home on ~limit line. Alt=59, Az=165. Planning and Results page. Kirk and I both got misses.
Jan 7 Wed eve 9:26:50pm - Occultation of a 12.5 Star for 12.6s by (137) Meliboea. Path includes all of SC County and MIRA. Alt=59. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a positive only for the "R", on a cloudy evening. Kirk got a positive on unattended Astrid at home.
Jan 8 9:21pm - Thur eve, Occultation of a W=10.5 Star for 0.3s by Asteroid 1999RL, from Hwy 17 Summit area - Alt=62 Az=104. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a 0.24s event from Mtn Charlie Ranch. Kirk recorded at the Red Diner on Hwy 17.
Jan 12 Mon eve- 8:30pm - Occultation of a 6.9 mag star for 0.3s by Xerxes, from UCSC and Karl, and Carbonera. Alt=61. Dur=0.6s. This one just appeared in the predictions - a very bright event. I plan to drive up Graham Hill Planning and Results page. Results: I got a 0.70s event at TreeTop Ln, Karl too, from home. Kirk maybe a miss at hay barn UCSC.
Jan 13 Tue eve - 11:54pm - Occultation of an 8.8 Star by Asteroid 4695 P-L, from downtown Santa Cruz. I should be able to get this one from my carport. Dur=0.3s. Planning and Results page. Results: I couuld not ID the star field for this Alt=77 event, with poor GoTo. Kirk got a positive remotely on Astrid at home, but a miss from his UCSC spot.
Jan 14 11:04pm - Occultation of a W=12.4 (combined) star/asteroid by Asteroid Aaltje. Wide path includes Santa Cruz, Carbonera, and Karl. I'm planning on getting this from home, then drive to Pineridge for the 12:30 double feature of the 2002 JY33 asteroid event together with the Dragon capsule fireball re-entry over the skies immediately after the asteroid event. Planning and Results page Results: I got a 2.13s positive from my carport. Kirk too, and Karl. The Valda OCR training session once again succeeded in giving no time stamp errors.
Jan 15 Thur morn 12:31am - Occultation of a 11.0 star for 0.2s by Asteroid 2002 JY33. and Planning and Results page. Results:Recorded at 1x at Pine Ridge cul-de-sac, looked like a miss. Got a few pix of the Dragon capsule firey re-entry just as the recording period for occultation was about to end.
Jan 15 Thur morn 12:33am Thur morn. SpaceX Dragon capsule re-entry. 12:25am Thur morning in NE, fireball then into the SW. Pix Page
Jan 15 Thur eve 9:25:06pm - High value occultation of Jupiter Trojan asteroid Deiphobus. Crosses right over Santa Cruz Mtns vertically. We're all in the path. But the star is faint. W=14.4 combined w/ Deiphobus. The event is 9.2s long, so integration should save the day, but it would be better if we had large scopes on this one. I did not see this on the predictions until tonight - 1 night before the event. Too tight in time to try and get this from MIRA, and our 12" at Cabrillo seems still unlikely to be ready. I have not succeeded in focusing it with the Watec. Planning and Results page. Results: I got success at Pine Ridge cul-de-sac at 32x. Kirk too, from Eco-Reserve. Karl too, from home. All at 32x. Bernard, ??. Results sent in to IOTA and LuckyStar.
Jan 16 Fri eve 7:22pm - Occultation of a 10.9 Star for 0.4s by Asteroid 1994 PC16. From San Adreas/Larkin Valley, and Moran Lake south. Planning and Results page. Results: I observed from the same spot I've used before, on a field at Larkin Valley Rd. Got recording, either a partial occ or miss. Not sure. Kirk from Moran Lake.
Jan 17 Sat 12:22am - Occultation of a 13.4 Star by Asteroid Valda, from coast of Santa Cruz or south of Watsonville. Planning and Results page
Jan 18 Sun eve 8:27pm - Occultation of an 11.4 Star by Assisi, from Graham Hill Rd, Scotts Valley, and just south of Karl. Alt=49 just above Jupiter. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk, Karl and I all tried this. I got a ~0.5s positive at Treetop Ln, and Kirk the same at "the Berm". Karl, not sure yet.
Jan 18 Sun eve 10pm - Occultation of a 13.1 Star for 1.1s by 1998 BA9, from Karl's place, or north of BD Airfield. Alt=59 in Gemini. I'm not sure I will drive that far to try it. I'm inclined to skip it. But I'll make a planning page if Karl is going to try it. Planning and Results page. I've decided to skip this one. Kirk and Karl both got positives.
Jan 20 Tue eve 7:45pm for my presentation - I will give a Presentation at the on-line Global Star Party on our recent discovery of a new moon around Quaoar..website Link is here . Live simulcast on YouTube (link)
Jan 22 Thur eve 11:17:07pm - Occultation of an 11.2 Star for 0.6s for asteroid 1999 XD40, from western Santa Cruz. Planning and Results page. Results: I drove to the east bike path entrance to Wilder, set up, and got fogged out.
Jan 28 Wed eve 7:56pm - Occultation of a 13.5 Star for 1.0s by 5112 T-2, from Empire Grade and southern Scotts Valley. I plan to try from Twin Gates. Planning and Results page. Results: I got this from Twin Gates, looked like a 1s positive, as Kirk got from "the Berm".
Jan 28 Wed eve 9:33:52pm - Occultation of a W=7.3 Star for 1.2s by 2002 NF39, from Scotts Valley. RUWE=3.95, rank poor, I tentatively plan to drive to Canham Rd in Scotts Valley, Planning and Results page. Results: Got a recording from Canham Rd, a miss. Kirk got shoo'd from his site in SV by cops, no data.
Jan 29 Thur morn -12:39:56am Occultation of a W=7.7 Star by GaiaMoons asteroid (3596) Meriones. From western central California. HIgh value, and looks well suited for small telescopes. Dur=10.3s main body, about 1.5s for moonlet if it exists. RUWE=6.57 which is pretty high. Try from our homes. We could get lucky. Planning Results page. Got a recording from Holy Cross Church, a miss
Jan 30 Fri morn 1:06:09am - Occultation of a 9.6 star by 2002 ER74, from Santa Cruz. My home is on northern limit of a narrow path. Planning and Results page. Results: bright sky and fog made it impossible, tried it from entrance to Neary Park on California St. on centerline. I did not do a recording. But Kirk was in clear spot, got data.
Feb 1 Sun eve 7:09pm - Occultation of a W=12.6 Star by 1999 BD34. Planning and Results page Results: got a recording, unreduced, almost certainly too noisy with bright cirrus clouds to get anything. From carport
Feb 2 Mon eve 10:38:17pm - Occultation of a W=13.3 Star by binary asteroid Sylvia, from Santa Cruz Mtns and south. We're inside the northern limit comfortably enough for some confidence. Drop=0.4 magnitudes for up to 65 seconds. Planning and Results page
Feb 4 Wed morn 12:40:38am - Occultation of a W=14.2 Star for 5.9s by TNO 2014 UW224, from somewhere in the northern hemisphere. 100 mile across TNO, maybe 4% odds of a hit. But if anyone gets a hit, the misses will be more valuable. Alt=65 due south. Planning and Results page Results: Got a recording from home. Not reduced yet.
Feb 7 Sat morn 12:10am - Occultation of a 12.2 star for 0.8s by Sosva, from coastal Santa Cruz (I'm on N. limit). RUWE = 3.95 poor. Try from home. Planning and Results page. Results: Got a recording from home, looked like a miss.
Feb 8 Sun morn - Occultation of a 13.2 Star for 1.5s by 1999 XE165, from northern Santa Cruz and Wilder Ranch. Planning and Results page Results: Got recording from eastern entrance to bike path at Wilder. No one else was able to try as I didn't get it posted on my events page
Feb 8 Sun morn - Occultation of an 11.2 Star for 0.2s by 2000 RL32, from Long Marine lab and Wilder Ranch. Planning and Results page. Results: Got a recording from eastern entrance to bike path at Wilder Ranch. Looked like a miss, at 1x, but not reduced yet. No one else was able to try as I didn't get it posted on my events page
Feb 13, 2026 at 7:10:38pm - Occultation of a 12.2 Star for 0.2s by Asteroid 1998 MH43, from Panamint Valley outside Death Valley. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a successful 0.2s event. Kirk recorded from centeline, unknown result.
Feb 14, 2026 at 6:47pm - Occultation of a 9.5 Star by Annalisa, from Zabriskie Point, Death Valley. Planning and Results page. Results: Successful recording of probable miss by me. Kirk, ?
Feb 14, 2026 at 7:52pm - Occultation of a 13.7 Star for 2.3s by Klio, from Zabriskie Point. Planning and Results page . Results: Kirk and I both got ~2s positives from same sites as Annalisa, in Death Valley.
Feb 19 Thur 6:45:36pm - Occultation of a 10.5 Star for 0.5s by Parini, from Bonny Doon and Summit Store. Alt=74, Az=161 in Taurus. Planning and Results page. Results. I got a positive from the liquor store(!) in Felton.
Feb 21 Sat 8:40:34pm - Occultation of a 13.0 Star for 1.2s by 1999 JF95 from rural San Andreas Rd. SC and Karl not in path. Planning and Results page Results: I observed from near Beach Rd, probable not on target. Kirk farther north, probable success.
Feb 22 Sun eve 8:50:27pm - Occultation of a 12.0 Star for 1.4s by Asteroid Grieg. From south of Davenport, Planning and Results page Results: Kirk and I both got positives. Karl kicked tripod. I was at Shark Fin Cove.
Feb 28 Sat eve 9:14pm - Occultation of an 11.6 Star by Iidetenmondai, from Scotts Valley. Good rank. Alt=22 in SE. Planning and Results page
Mar 3, Tue morn: Total Lunar Eclipse. Totality from 3:04am to 4:03am in Leo.
Mar 3 Tue eve 10:42pm - Occultation of a 13.6 Star by 1999 SP1 at BD airfield, Cabrillo Observatory. Planning and Results page. Results: Got a recording at CabObs
Mar 4 Wed eve 7:56:14pm - Occultation of a W=12.8 Star for 0.4s by Petaev, from Santa Cruz and Aptos Hills. Not Karl. Alt=49 due west, Do-able from home, same for Jordan. Planning and Results page Results: Got a positive from Larkin Valley Rd./Hwy 1. Kirk pos from home
Mar 4 Wed eve 9:14pm - Occultation of an 11.5 Star by 2000 HO4, from La Selva, coastal SC. Maybe do both tonight from Aptos area, w/ a dinner at Los Gordos and meet-up with Jordan? Planning and Results page. Results: Got a recording from Mar Monte cul-de-sac, Kirk from Moran Lake, Karl from home.
Mar 5 Thur eve 11:04pm - Occultation of a W=11.0 Star by 2002 CV37, from Scotts Valley. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording from the parking spot at the old Santa's Village.
Mar 7 Sat eve 6:52pm - Occultation of a W=14.2 Star by Trojan Asteroid Dares, from Santa Cruz and SC Mtns. Planning and Results page. Results: Set up at foot of driveway. Sky too bright, no data. No other attempts.
Mar 9 Mon eve 10:17:19pm - Occultation of a W=13.5 Star for 1.0s by Asteroid (28884) Youngjunchoi - Alt=59, Az=184, from Wilder Ranch and Locatelli Meadow. Planning and Results page. Results: I did not try, too busy. Kirk got it.
Mar 9 Mon eve 10:44:07pm- Occultation of a W=9.6 combined Star for 18s by Asteroid (18) Eunomia. and Planning and Results page Results: I, Kirk, Karl all got recordings and positives.
Mar 14 Sat eve - 8:59:12pm - Occultation of a W=11.9 Star for 0.2s by Asteroid 2002GL from Santa Cruz, Aptos. Planning and Results page . Results:
Mar 15 Sun eve 9:21pm - Occultation of a W=13.6 Star for 0.7s by Asteroid 2000 ON7, from Santa Cruz and Wilder Ranch almost. Misses Aptos and Karl by a lot. Alt=74 in Gemini, Az=224. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording at my carport
Mar 15 Sun eve 11:15pm - Occultation of a W=12.7 Star for 0.5s by Asteroid 2002 SV15. from Santa Cruz, Alt=42 in Orion. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording across from Soquel High School on a residential street.
Mar 16 Mon eve - Occultation of a W=4.1 star in Cetus for 0.2s by Asteroid () 1981 ES40, from coastal Santa Cruz and San Andreas/Watsonville. Rank isn't great. Alt=29, Az=260. Brilliant star - a new record in brightness if we can get it. Planning page. Results: Jordan and I set up on/near Sand Dollar Rd off San Andreas. Got recordings.
Mar 17 Tue morn 12:08am - Occultation of a W=11.2 Star by suspected binary asteroid Celle, from north coast of Santa Cruz county. This important event slipped by me until alerted by some AZ observers. Bright star and prior observation finds suspected moon of 1/2 diameter of primary. This event could result in the discovery of this moon and the good science that results from binary asteroids. Alt=52. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a recording of a double occultation, from the coast at the end of a dirt road ~1 mi north of Wilder Ranch. Kirk got a single occultation from closer to northern limit.
Mar 17 Tue eve 9:21pm - Occultation of a 12.0 Star by 2006 HE110 from Cabrillo Observatory and Santa Cruz, Aptos. Alt=52, Az=229 in Orion. Planning page. Results: I got a recording at 2x from Cabrillo Observatory. Jordan also tried, at the observatory, but did not get on target in time. Karl did not observe this one.
Mar 18, 2026 Wed eve at 8:07pm - Occultation of an 8.5 Star by Asteroid (4570) Runcorn, for Karl, and Jordan at home, north a bit from Santa Cruz. Alt=73 Az 225. Planning and Results page . Results: Kirk and I got short positives, Karl a miss probable. I was on Graham Hill Rd at Rollingwoods.
Mar 19, 2026 Thur eve at 8:16pm - Occultation of a W=11.9 Star by Asteroid 4320 P-L . Poor rank, Karl's in path. Alt=56. Planning page. Results: Kirk got data. Karl and I could not ID the star field.
Mar 20 2026 at 9:54:07pm - Occultation of a 10.5 Star in cluster M38 for 0.4s by Asteroid Swift. Alt-52, Az-282 in Auriga. I will try from Canham Rd in northern Scotts Valley Planning page Be ready for the next event below - only 10 minutes later.
Mar 20, 2026 Fri eve at 10:04:46 pm - Occultation of a very red W=10.8 Star by 1991UT1 from Karl's on the centerline. I will try from Canham Rd in northern Scotts Valley. Planning page
Mar 22 2026 Sun eve at 11:25:01pm - Occultation of a 12.3 Star by GaiaMoons Asteroid Milton, Alt=33, Az=253. Worth doubling up on observer tracks to confirm the discovery of any moonlet. More valuable than mapping the target outline with wide separation. However, widely separate double tracks are useful. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk from BD, and I from Canham Rd in SV, both got recordings. Visually looked like a 0.4s positive
Mar 25 2026 Wed eve 9:13pm - Occultation of a 12.1 Star for 0.5s by 2000 EU94, from SC Mtns and Scotts Valley, Quail Hollow, Castelegno's, and Valencia Rd. Only 5 deg from 54% moon. Nice for Jordan. Karl's planning on using Olive Springs Quarry.. Planning and Results page. Results: I got a .5s pos from a wide spot not far south of Castelegnos. Karl recorded a probable short event on Olive Springs. Kirk got a positive from Scotts Valley area.
Mar 26 2026 Thur eve10:58:34pm - Occultation of a W=12.7 Star for 1.7s by Asteroid (408) Fama. From everywhere in SC Mtns and Monterey Bay. Planning and Results page Results: I set up on Ocean St. Extension near the cemetary. Got a good recording that looked like a miss.
Mar 29 Sun eve 10:07:16pm +- 2min - Occultation of a W=15.0 Star by TNO 2012 AZ25. Odds low but nominal path across here. High risk / high reward. Planning and Results page. Results: I was late discovering this event and making charts. I got a recording at home through cirrus. Probably lost in clouds but will send to LS.
Apr 4 Sat 9:00pm - Occultation of a 12.66 Star for 0.3s by Asteroid 2000AQ238, from Scotts Valley and Felton, and Castelegno's. Misses Karl. Planning and Results page. I got a miss from Felton off Mt Hermon, entrance to open space.
Apr 6 Mon morn 12:08am - Occultation of a 12.9 Star for 0.9s by Asteroid 2000 UE78. Do from home, KB, RN, BH, JB. Planning and Results page. Results: Kirk and I both got positives.
Apr 8 Wed eve 9:48:01pm - Occultation of a 12.4 Star by () 1999 RP144 through Santa Cruz, mediocre rank. Alt=46, Az=256 in Gemini. Planning and Results page. Results. I was the only one to try this. Got a recording.
Apr 15- 9:21pm - Occultation of a W=12.3 Star by Clarissa. Path misses Santa Cruz but possible moonlet discovery is the reason to try it. Prospects good what with enough people in the path and area, it may be discovered. Planning page Results: Kirk (home) and I (4x at the Berm) got recordings of probable misses. Karl foiled by a tree. Jordan ran out of time trying to get the computer powered up.
Apr 15 - 9:43:54pm - Occultation of an 11.5 Star for 0.2s by Asteroid Davidgheesling. Planning page. Results: I got a recording from "the Berm". Unreduced, at 1x
