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Updated: 2007 JAN 12, 01:46 UT
Event Rank : 8
(The event Rank is a measure of the likelihood of observing an event, and is equal to the probability of at least one successful observation by a team of two observers spaced 1/8 path width just inside opposite sides of the predicted path. An event rank of 100 indicates that the prediction is expected to be very accurate).
THE UPDATED PATH
Note: The duration given in the line below is the interval during which the occultation shadow sweeps across the Earth - please see the minute markers on the map to determine the approximate time for your location.
On 2007 Jan 17 UT, the 14 km diameter asteroid (5292) 1991 AJ1 will occult a 9.5 mag star in the constellation Taurus for observers along a narrow path of very large uncertainty across the south island of New Zealand.
In the case of an occultation, the combined light of the asteroid and the star will drop by 6.5 mag to 16.0 mag (the magnitude of the asteroid) for at most 2.1 seconds.
This update is based on UNSO/Flagstaff astrometry for the asteroid kindly provided by Ron Stone, historical astrometry from the MPC files (via AstDys), and the following catalogs for the star position: UCAC.
Additional details of this and other events are available at Steve Preston's website at http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/
EVENT DETAILS SUMMARY :Important Note regarding Accuracy:
The uncertainty interval in path widths given above (and shown as a 1-sigma uncertainty ellipse on the plot) refers to RMS deviation and is applied as a +/- range. In other words, a path uncertainty of 1.0 path widths means that the actual center of the asteroid's shadow path should fall within plus or minus 1 path width of the plotted path center. However path errors larger than 1 sigma have been observed so observers should be alert for primary occultations within plus or minus 3 sigma of the updated path.
Further, almost all asteroidal satellites discovered so far have been found within 10 diameters of the asteroid (since this distance is deep enough within the gravitational well to be stable over long timescales). Therefore, if monitoring for secondary events, observing out to about 10 path-widths either side of the predicted track remains worthwhile.
We therefore recommend that you monitor for events if your observing location is up to +/- 10 path-widths from the predicted track. If not monitoring for occultations by secondary bodies you should observe from locations within 3 sigma of the nominal path.
In terms of time, the predictions are now usually accurate to about +/- 0.3 minute so you should be most attentive during the predicted minute of the event. However if intending to catch a potential satellite occultation you should start observing at least 10 times the predicted central duration before the predicted closest approach time for your location, and continue for a similar period afterwards.
Centre Star Star Sun Path Limits Error Limits
E. Longitude Latitude U.T. Alt Az Alt Limit 1 Limit 2 Limit 3 Limit 4
o ' " o ' " h m s o o o o ' " o ' " o ' " o ' "
Longitude Longitude Longitude Longitude
171 25 18 -47 0 0 8 55 51 24 8 -5 171 32 30 171 18 6 173 26 54 169 22 4
171 6 46 -46 0 0 8 56 0 25 9 -6 171 13 51 170 59 41 173 6 27 169 5 29
170 47 35 -45 0 0 8 56 9 26 9 -6 170 54 34 170 40 36 172 45 27 168 48 8
170 27 46 -44 0 0 8 56 19 26 10 -6 170 34 38 170 20 53 172 23 56 168 30 2
170 7 19 -43 0 0 8 56 28 27 10 -7 170 14 6 170 0 32 172 1 53 168 11 12
169 46 16 -42 0 0 8 56 38 28 10 -7 169 52 57 169 39 34 171 39 20 167 51 40
169 24 36 -41 0 0 8 56 49 29 11 -8 169 31 13 169 18 0 171 16 16 167 31 27
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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