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Unmanned Spaceflight.com _ Telescopic Observations _ Asteroid Occultation- Los Angeles TONIGHT!

Posted by: nprev Apr 6 2010, 12:38 AM

Just found out about this. Zeta Ophiuchi (mag 2.5) will be occulted by much fainter 824 Anastasia @ 0334 PDT 6 Apr. Path of occultation is predicted to cut right through eastern/central Los Angeles! I'm near the western edge, so definitely will try to observe this; edge observations are particularly valuable for constraining both the asteroid's ephemeris & diameter. Full article, map & details from Sky & Telescope http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/89690067.html.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Apr 6 2010, 12:41 AM

I guess a word of advice for visitors to So. Cal. Nick is that if you get lost in LA tonight and you can see the occultation then you probably shouldn't be in that part of town after dark.

Posted by: nprev Apr 6 2010, 12:43 AM

...hence my comittment to observe from the edge of the error region in Torrance!

Parts of Pasadena also seem to be near the western edge, as well as the Griffith Observatory; wonder if they're planning to check it out.

Posted by: Hungry4info Apr 6 2010, 11:40 AM

Are you going to record occultation and re-appearance times?
Observers are encouraged to do so and submit them along with Lat, Long, elevation.

Posted by: nprev Apr 7 2010, 12:13 AM

I actually missed it due to some low haze (close to the beach, here) & LA skyglow; couldn't even see Zeta Ophiuchi. Hopefully others further inland had better luck.

Posted by: Hungry4info Apr 7 2010, 01:43 AM

Ouch. I am sorry to hear

Posted by: Bill Harris Apr 7 2010, 06:50 PM

I've heard/seen nothing on the results of this occultation, but here is the Google Search on ( "Zeta Ophiuchi" occultation "824 Anastasia" ) :

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=%22Zeta+Ophiuchi%22+occultation+%22824+Anastasia%22&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=f&oq=&gs_rfai=

--Bill

Posted by: elakdawalla Apr 7 2010, 07:42 PM

Daniel Fischer Tweeted a link to http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/observations/Results/Data2010/20100406_AnastasiaProfile.jpg, which demonstrates that only 3 viewers doing careful astrometry, in locations to the northwest of the city of Los Angeles (Thousand Oaks and Castaic), actually witnessed the event.