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

Summary:

This event was found by David Herald using the OCCULT software (Windows version 1.4) with the 'Goffin' catalogue of star positions. The predicted event runs tangential to the surface of the Earth to the south of the Australian land mass over the period 14:05 UT to 14:10 UT. Due to the high northern declination of the target star, most of the southern parts of Australia and New Zealand lie within 0.5" of the predicted path.

Astrometry intended for another event involving (331) Etheridgea crossing North America earlier on the same night has been used to update this event. The path change is very slight - around 0.5 of a path width to the north and around 10 seconds later. As such the path is still tangential to the Earth's surface and the probability of any event involving the main body of the asteroid being seen from the Australian or New Zealand land masses is low.

THE EVENT AT ONE GLIMPSE:

• Date and approx. UT time of event: January 27, 2001 @ 14:08 UT
• Magnitude of target star: 9.7
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 4.6
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 6.3
• Path description: See above.

• Approximate width [km]: --
• Map: See below