Occultation
of UCAC4 561-044345
by the Binary Asteroid (90) Antiope
England and Wales - Saturday, Sep 21 at 0305 UT, 2024.
Call for Observations...
Background https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/90_Antiope
Prediction: https://cloud.occultwatcher.net/event/1359-90-110625-649388-U044345#
Introduction
This ia a rare opportunity to
observe an occultation by binary Antiope from the UK. Malcolm Jennings (London)
made a positive observation in 2009.
A shadow path for this interesting, and challenging event (owing
to the star brightness), passes over central England and Wales. The E-W
path (150km wide) includes Birmingham to the South, Manchester and Leeds
to the North, indicated by the red lines. The asteroid outlines are shown,
including the approximate location of some observers. More observers are
requested with home-based instruments. This will improved the spatial coverage
of the shadow paths, leading (we hope) to an approximate outline.
We expect typical apertures in the range of 20 to 35cm should be able record the occultation at 3 fps, or faster if possible using SER or FITS format with an accurate UT time stamp.
The objective
To find the orientation of the binary and the apparent sizes of the components
- weather and circumstances permitting !
Update (2024-09-04) observer distribution with 5 cords, several more in planning phase. Map credit: Google Earth.
Antiope_overlay.PNG)
....... 
Updated
(2024-09-24). Occult map correctly overlayed with DAMIT model. The asteroid
orientation is improved.
Note the apparent gap between the two bodies is wider compared to the Google
Earth diagram above, and the shadow extremities are further north/south.
Diagram
credit: David Dunham (IOTA) instructions here:
https://occultations.org/publications/rasc/2022/PlottingPathsForAntiopeOccultations.pdf
Details
Download the kmz file here
Occult4 prediction, 1 degree map (SkyMapPro) and 0.3deg map (C2a)
Pre-point to find the target star.
Delta Gem is close to the same declination as the target star. Find delta Gem and wait 27m 56s. Sidereal motion will drift the target into the center of the field view. (Alt-Az mount, or EQ drive off.)
delta Gem (J2000):
07h 20m 07s / +21d 58' 56"
Target * ....(J2000): 07h 48m 03s / +22d 09' 10"
dRA = 27m 56s and 10' north declination from delta.
Important
Do you plan to observe this? If so, please let the undersigned know - thank you! ( NB: Does not apply to users of Occult Watcher.)
Observe/record
in night of Sep20/21 from 0304 to 0307 UT
Mid time approx' 03h 05m 15s
RA/DEC (J2000):
07:48:03 +22:09:10
of date (JNOW): ...07:49:30 +22:05:42
Altitude/Azimuth 28/089 in Gemini.
Star: UCAC4 561-044345
CMC14 074803.1+220917
GSC 1374-541
Mag red: 13.2
Mag vis: 13.6
Maximum duration 4.7 seconds ( Not sure if this is for one or both bodies
!)
We are observing the star, which should disappear and reappear !. Magnitude drop is 1.8
Reporting:
Please report success or failure to Tim Haymes (Assistant Director,
BAA Asteroids and Remote Planets Section), or your local association.
tvh dot observatory at btinternet dot com.
Report Form here
Good luck !
IN CONCLUSION
No observations were secured owing to inclement weather.
I would like to thanks all those planning or attempting observation of this remarkable asteroid pairing, and to those passing on information to possible observers. We where clouded-out, which was disappointing, but at least we tried. There will be other opportunites.
S Kidd nr Cambridge
A Cook nr Newtown
T Haymes nr Banbury
T Haymes (Mobile) – with thanks to the Solihull Riding club for permission.
A.R Pratt nr Leeds
R Stuart nr Rhayader
W Stewart nr Crew
W Stewart (Mobile – for investigating a possible location on Cannock
Chase )
Mansfield Astronomical Society
Newtown Astronomical Society (Wales)
Salford Astronomical Society
Tim
Haymes
BAA Asteroids and Remote Planets Section (Occultations) 2024-09-24.