Blinking star will give skywatchers a heavenly moment

[CoombellKid]

This could be worth an attempt to observe....

At 9.31pm on Thursday, astronomers have calculated, a tiny world called
1999 RZ253 will eclipse a star. The news has occultation hunters abuzz
because the asteroid is a member of the Kuiper Belt, a stream of objects on
the solar system's very edge.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/blinking-star-will-give-skywatchers-a-heavenly-moment/2007/10/01/1191091029983.html

regards,CS

[DaveGee]

Hi Rob,

The latest prediction via OccultV4/Astorb/NOMAD has shifted the shadow path off planet and 40 odd minutes later. See...
http://users.tpg.com.au/users/daveg/OZNZ_extras/071004_66652_1999RZ253.png

The whole Earth is still within the 1-Sigma and therefore the event is still worth observing.

So the time to watch is 12:17UT = 10:17pm AEST +/- 20 minutes

Regards
DaveGault

[bizarro]

Thanks for the extra info Dave and well done getting a mention in the SMH.

Cheers,
Greg

[Mr. Subatomic]

Congrats Dave, I read the article the other day.

[Mr. Subatomic]

Does anyone know of a map showing the position of the star?

[DaveGee]

Hi Subatomic,

Try these on for size.... attached...

The star is known as HIP 111398, SAO146161, TYC 5811 877 and a partridge in a pear tree...

Remember 12:17UT (= 10:17pm AEST) is the central time and due to uncertainties with the position of the (binary) asteroid's position you need to observe 20 minutes before and after that time. The maximum expected duration is 8.6 seconds So keep a sharp lookout. Personally I'll use video.

Regards
Dave

[astroron]

Clouded out here.

[DaveGee]

It's clear here in The Blue Mountains.

The scope's been tracking for 40 minutes so I'm nearly done. I have to go through the video though... still, it has a more suspenseful plot that most of the stuff offered on the telly of late!

D

[astroron]

Best of luck Dave :) I hope you get something:thumbsup:

[Mr. Subatomic]

I wasn't able to get a look (light pollution), but how'd it go Dave?