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THIS UPDATE REPLACES THE PREVIOUS UPDATE OF 22 MARCH.
CHECK THIS PAGE REGULARLY FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND CHANGES TO THE TRACK.
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This prediction update has been computed by Dr. Martin Federspiel of the Freiburg Planetarium, Germany, based on astrometry from Ron Stone of the US Naval Observatory - Flagstaff Station. The Tycho-2 position of the target star has been used.
Summary:
This updated path lies around 0.4" to the north of the path given by Goffin and around 1 minute earlier. As such, the path location is virtually identical to that derived in the earlier update.To see a table of the coordinates for the centre line of the updated path, click here.
Steve Preston from Washington state, USA, has also generated an update for this event using different software although most probably based on the same astrometry from Ron Stone. His updates may be viewed at his website. His update more lies around half a path width to the north of the earlier OCCULT generated update path with a similar time (12:34:50 UT in the Coffs Harbour area).
All other details associated with this event are as per the earlier update.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: 22 March 2001
This prediction update has been computed by Stephen Kerr based on astrometry from Ron Stone of the US Naval Observatory - Flagstaff Station. The Tycho-2 position of the target star has been used.
Summary:
This updated path lies around 0.4" to the north of that given by Edwin Goffin and around 15 seconds earlier. The updated path clips the very northernmost tip of the North Island of New Zealand (12:32:30 UT). It crosses the Australian coastline around the Port Macquarie/Nambucca Heads area of the northern New South Wales coast, passing just to the north of Tamworth and Coonabarabran further inland (12:35 UT). Running west across central Australia, the path crosses the Western Australian coastline just to the north of Carnarvon (12:40:30 UT).
Observers should note that it is almost certain that a more rigourous update for this event will be prepared over the next day or so and will be posted to this webpage. Observers should recheck this page regularly over the period leading up to the event. Don't forget to press the 'Refresh' button.
In the event that the updated path returns to the area indicated by Edwin Goffin or to another area where a number of observers could reach the path, it would be beneficial for those observers with portable equipment to co-ordinate an observing 'fence' to maximise the potential scientific value of any positive observations. For information on potential co-ordinators for mobile observers in various areas, please contact Graham Blow or Stephen Kerr.
THE EVENT AT A GLANCE:
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.
Use these links for further information:
[Planetary Occultations]
[Using the Predictions]
[Observing Details]
[Timing Details]
[Reporting Details]
[Report Form]
[Asteroid Occultation Results]
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