Edwin Goffin's original prediction for this event places the path across southeastern Australia (passing very close to CANBERRA and directly crossing ADELAIDE and SYDNEY), and also across the northern tip of New Zealand. The event is unusual in that Chloris is moving extremely slowly at present, which could lead to large errors in the predicted time.

On October 2 Gordon Garradd using CCD equipment at the Loomberah Observatory obtained thirteen astrometric positions of the asteroid alone. Reduction of these against the TAC position of the star CONFIRMS THE ORIGINAL TRACK, with no measureable shift in position but with a shift in the predicted time.

Updated times of the event are:

• ADELAIDE: 15h 37m
• CANBERRA: 15h 44m
• SYDNEY: 15h 45m
• WHANGAREI, NZ: 16h 02m

OBSERVATIONS REQUIRED:

Please note the following:

• Astrometry so far is of the planet only. Astrometry including the star may shift the track significantly.
• Because the planet is moving so slowly there may still be significant errors in the predicted time.

For these reasons observers throughout Australasia should monitor the event for a substantial period - at the very least 10 minutes centred on the time for your location, and preferably much longer. Although the event will not be an easy one with the 95% sunlit moon only 42 degrees from the magnitude 11.2 star, with the path likely to cross densely populated regions of Australia the chances of a positive result are high.

A successful outcome to this event will be greatly enhanced if as many observations as possible across the occultation track are obtained. By obtaining as many non-redundant chords across the asteroid as possible, the chances of deriving an accurate shape are enormously enhanced. This means that observers with suitable portable telescopes which are currently situated close to fixed observatories are urged to co-ordinate with each other, and if necessary travel with your telescope to a location 10-40 km north or south of the location of the fixed observatory. (Assuming, of course, that the fixed observatory plans to monitor the event....).

The update map below has been generated using OCCULT software.

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