OccultationsOccultations

Do you need one more reason to add Do you need one more reason to add more toys for astronomy?more toys for astronomy?

What is an Occultation?What is an Occultation?The passage of a celestial body across a line between The passage of a celestial body across a line between

an observer and another celestial object an observer and another celestial object

Most commonly by the Moon…Most commonly by the Moon…like this.like this.

or this….or this….

Video of a Total OccultationVideo of a Total Occultation

What happens near the edge of the Moon?What happens near the edge of the Moon?

An event called a An event called a Grazing OccultationGrazing Occultation occurs. The star may trace out a path occurs. The star may trace out a path behind lunar mountains and through lunar behind lunar mountains and through lunar valleys.valleys.

Useful in determining location of Bailey’s Useful in determining location of Bailey’s Beads during solar eclipses.Beads during solar eclipses.

Useful in determining changes in the Sun’s Useful in determining changes in the Sun’s diameter.diameter.

Predicted profile of a Grazing OccultationPredicted profile of a Grazing Occultation

What other objects could cause What other objects could cause occultations?occultations?

Would it be possible to observe the Would it be possible to observe the occultation of a star by another type of occultation of a star by another type of

solar system object? solar system object?

What other objects could cause What other objects could cause occultations?occultations?

Would it be possible to observe the Would it be possible to observe the occultation of a star by another type of occultation of a star by another type of

solar system object? solar system object?

How about an ASTEROID?How about an ASTEROID?

Problems: size, position of star, position of Problems: size, position of star, position of asteroid, brightness difference between asteroid, brightness difference between

themthem

The answer….YES!The answer….YES!

WithWith

EnoughEnough

ObserversObservers

Or, this Or, this idea by idea by another another

observerobserver

And now?And now?

Moons ofMoons of

Asteroids?Asteroids?

Kalliope andKalliope and

LinusLinus

Satelloids!Satelloids!

So…what do I do?So…what do I do?

Get needed equipment Get needed equipment

• your telescope, known positionyour telescope, known position• shortwave radio, stopwatchshortwave radio, stopwatch• low-light video camera, radio, VCRlow-light video camera, radio, VCR• low-light video camera, GPS time low-light video camera, GPS time

inserter, VCRinserter, VCR

EquipmentEquipment

Low-light video camera Low-light video camera

Super Circuits PC164CSuper Circuits PC164C

~ $ 140~ $ 140

Video Time InserterVideo Time Inserter

KIWI-OSD w/GPS receiverKIWI-OSD w/GPS receiver

~ $ 250~ $ 250

Information and PredictionsInformation and Predictions

IOTAIOTA www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htmwww.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm

Yahoo IOTAoccultationsYahoo IOTAoccultationshttp://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/IOTAoccultations/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/IOTAoccultations/

Super Super CircuitsCircuitswww.supercircuits.comwww.supercircuits.com

KIWI-OSDKIWI-OSDwww.pfdsystems.com/kiwiosd.htmlwww.pfdsystems.com/kiwiosd.html

Information and PredictionsInformation and Predictions

Steve Preston’s Prediction websiteSteve Preston’s Prediction websitewww.asteroidoccultation.com

Derek Breit websiteDerek Breit website

www.poyntsource.com/New/Google.htm

Asteroid Occultations Report WebsiteAsteroid Occultations Report Websitewww.asteroidoccultation.com/observations

Pages by Brad TimersonPages by Brad Timersonwww.fingerlakessynthetics.com/occultations/GrazeMaps.html

www.fingerlakessynthetics.com/AstOccult/