This prediction update has been computed by Stephen Kerr based on astrometry from Ron Stone of the US Navel Observatory - Flagstaff Station. The TYC position of the target star has been used.

Summary:

The updated path lies around 3 path widths to the south-west of that given by Goffin and with little difference in time. The path now includes the south-western half of Tasmania including Hobart (11:55:20 UT). It clips the South Australian coastline near Millicent (11:56:35 UT), includes Kangaroo Island and the tips of the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas including Port Lincoln (11:57:20 UT). The path then crosses the Nullarbor Plain and central Western Australia and crosses the Pilbara coast at Roebourne (12:00:45 UT).

THE EVENT AT ONE GLIMPSE:

• Date and approx. UT time of event: May 5, 2000 @ 12:00 UT
• Magnitude of target star: 10.90
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 1.8
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 9.6
• Path description: See above.

• Approximate width [km]: 100

• Name: TYC 5547 647 = PPM 717192
• Constellation: Virgo
• J2000 position [h,m,s; ^o,',"]: 13h 20m 57.484s; -11^o 04' 02.45"
• Position source: TYC 1
• V mag [mag]: 10.9
• B-V [mag]: +1.02
• Remarks:
• The target star is just over one degree west of Spica (alpha Vir). The 6.7 mag star SAO 157869 lies 17' to the south-west of the target star.

• Number, name: (233) Asterope
• Approx. diameter [km]: 108
• Source of used astrometry: US Navel Observatory - Flagstaff Station (Ron Stone)
• Number of used observations: 13
• Number of rejected observations: 0
• Time covered by the observations: 2000 04 05 - 2000 04 27

• UT date and time of least geocentric approach: 2000 May 5, 11:57.618 UTC
• Approx. V mag of minor planet at event [mag]: 12.4
• Geocentric parallax of minor planet ["]: 4.67
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 1.8
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 9.6
• Apparent motion of minor planet ["/h]: 29.53
• Angular distance to moon, phase of moon [deg,%]: 139, 3%
• Update computed by: Kerr (OCCULT 4.2)

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Astrometric updates such as these should not be taken as definitive, but rather only as an indication of where the true track may lie relative to the original predicted track. Observers must bear in mind that later astrometry, in which the target star is measured in the same field as the asteroid, may still reveal substantial changes to the predicted track and time of the event. For this reason it is most important that observers far from the predicted track still monitor the event.