Occult 4 prediction for Nov 7th................SkyMap (1 x 1.2deg) indication a finder star.........Map and approximate limits of observation
The ellipse illustrates the approximate orientation of the asteroid within the path shown in "More Information, 1)"

Fig-1.............................................................Fig-2.......................................................................Fig-3

Key to Fig3 and 6
Green line: Centre of the predicted shadow
Blue line: Edge of the shadow based on the mean diameter of 124 Km
Red line: Extent of uncertainty in the shadow width (10% in this case) for a mean diameter of 124 Km
Black line: The apparent paths of observers across Europe who are planning to observe.
Telescope outline: Approximate location forTim Haymes

Occult 4 prediction for Dec 7th................SkyMap (1 x 1.2deg) indication a finder star.........Map and approximate limits of observation

Fig-4..........................................................Fig-5.......................................................................Fig-6

 

Aims:
The unusual elongated profile of this asteroid will be revealed by observers recoding occultations from different locations across the tracks (Fig-3,Fig-6). This is akin to a lunar occultation team spread across edge of the Moon. Each observer contributes time information that will construct the outline of the object. Observers at their home locations are invited to contribute timings of dissapearance and reappearance (or no event) to the BAA Asteroids and Remote Planets Section,

Tips for observers / recorders:

1. Planning:
1) Let the writer know if you plan to observe and your location (even if you don't in the end). occultations AT stargazer DOT me DOT uk
2) Please do observe even if you are outside the limits drawn in red and blue lines (Fig 3 and 6). These observations may be negative or short duration.
3) If you are a visual observer, then please submit a report. All observations will be acknowledged. Pls Note: The Nov 7th event is not suitable for visual.
4) Allow enough time to find the correct star. About 30 min before occultation, the target star and asteroid will look like a close unequal double star.
5) If you use a mobile telescope, then make notes on its location so that we can get its coordinates from Google Earth.

2. Planetary Cameras:
1) Where possible use a focal reducer to get F4 to F7 or thereabouts.
2) Download and install Dimension 4 software and use it to update the computer clock to +/- 0.1 sec.
3) Use the camera software control to add the UT time stamp to the frames. This can be done with SharpCap and FireCapture (or other products).
4) Often there is a log file function. Use this to add extra info.
5 ) Select an integration time that records the target clearly without over-exposure. e.g. 5 FPS or 200 ms. Use trial and error to get best result beforehand
6) Try to avoid exposures longer than 330ms (3 FPS), 50ms to 200ms is optimal, depending on aperture.
7) Record in the format (SER or AVI) which shows the time stamps clearly.
8) Observe/record during the start and end times in Table-1
9) If possible arrange to have at least one other star in the field of view. This is used to monitor seeing conditions during analysis.
10) A mono planetary camera will be more sensitive than colour if you have a choice. Use a clear filter, or no filter.
11) The desired UT accuracy is +/-0.1 to 0.2s This can be worked out later.

3 Reporting:
1) The observer should play back the file and note the approximate times of any events. A software analysis will be needed to extract the exact times.
2) There is a free software tool (TANGRA) if the observer does the analysis, otherwise send the file to the writer for analysis (drop box etc).
3) Negative result (no occultation) are as important as the positives. Please report negatives or "unsure".
4) There is standard report to fill out. Contact me if you have a successful recording.

Good luck...

Tim Haymes

 

Fig-7 The path of Kleopatra in Canis Minor from November 7 to December 7, 2018

 

This page will update if required.

Tim Haymes: occultations AT stargazer DOT me DOT uk

Assistant Director, BAA Asteroids and Remote Planets Section, Occultations.

 

[ PS: I try to get the details right. If you see anything suspect, drop me an email thanks :-) ]

More information:
Ref-1) https://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/shepard.etal.2018.kleopatra.pdf
2) Kleopatra has two known satellites.
3 ) Predictions are prone to errors and prediction paths may be updated. Check this page for any updates.

About occultations and this page:
This is a personal web page to support occultation observers. There is a Yahoo! group: UKoccultations which observers are welcome to join. .
An observation sent to the writer is checked and forwarded to the BAA which will perform a preliminary analysis prior to submission to IOTA-ES.

Acknowledgements:
Occult-4 sofware by Dave Herald was used to compute the predictions. Nearer the time, an update may appear from Steve Preston (IOTA)
OccultWatcher software by Hristo Pavlov is used to present the ground maps for planing observer locations.
SkyMap pro 10 was used to present the path on the sky and the star fields.
The rough profile of the asteroid was obtained from the paper in Ref-1.
Updated profile information was provided by RogerVenable (IOTA) with thanks.

Page created: 2018 Aug 13, updated Oct 22