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

Summary:

This updated path lies around 0.9" to the north-west of that given by Edwin Goffin with little difference in time. The path crosses the southern islands of The Philippines (13:31 UT), Borneo (13:33 UT) and central-western Java (13:35 UT). The closest approaches to Australian centres are: Darwin at 13:32 UT and Exmouth at 13:36 UT.

THE EVENT AT ONE GLIMPSE:

• Date and approx. UT time of event: March 10, 2001 @ 13:35 UT
• Magnitude of target star: 7.86
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 7.5
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 6.0
• Path description: See above.
• Goffin's original chart reference: A01_0343

• Approximate width [km]: 60
• Map: See below
• Circles along the path are OCCULT calculated exact centerline points !!!!

• Name: HIP 39306 = PPM 98247 = SAO 79879
• Constellation: Cancer
• J2000 position [h,m,s; ^o,',"]: 8h 02m 11.088s; +26^o 38' 16.36"
• Position source: Hipparcos
• V mag [mag]: 7.86
• B-V [mag]: +0.93
• Remarks:
• The target star is in far western Cancer very near the border with Gemini. It lies 4 degrees east south-east of Pollux (beta Gem - mag = 1.2) and 72' south south-west of chi Gem (mag = 4.9).

• Number, name: (1000) Pizzia
• Approx. diameter [km]: 54
• Source of used astrometry: US Naval Observatory - Flagstaff Station (Ron Stone)
• Number of used observations: 10
• Number of rejected observations: 0
• Time covered by the observations: 2000 11 20 - 2001 03 02

• UT date and time of least geocentric approach: 2001 March 10, 13:30.7 UT
• Approx. V mag of minor planet at event [mag]: 15.31
• Geocentric parallax of minor planet ["]: 3.33
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 7.5
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 6.0
• Apparent motion of minor planet ["/h]: 16.92
• Angular distance to moon, phase of moon [deg,%]: 64, 99%
• Update computed by: Stephen Kerr (Win OCCULT 1.4).

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.