Transcript Occultations

Occultations
Do you need one more reason to add
more toys for astronomy?
What is an Occultation?
The passage of a celestial body across a line between an
observer and another celestial object
Most commonly by the Moon…
like this.
or this….
Video of a Total Occultation
What happens near the edge of the Moon?
An event called a Grazing Occultation occurs.
The star may trace out a path behind lunar
mountains and through lunar valleys.
Useful in determining location of Bailey’s Beads
during solar eclipses.
Useful in determining changes in the Sun’s
diameter.
Predicted profile of a Grazing Occultation
What other objects could cause
occultations?
Would it be possible to observe the occultation
of a star by another type of solar system
object?
What other objects could cause
occultations?
Would it be possible to observe the occultation
of a star by another type of solar system
object?
How about an ASTEROID?
Problems: size, position of star, position of
asteroid, brightness difference between
them
The answer….YES!
With
Enough
Observers
Or, this
idea by
another
observer
And now?
Moons of
Asteroids?
Kalliope and
Linus
Satelloids!
So…what do I do?
Get needed equipment
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your telescope, known position
shortwave radio, stopwatch
low-light video camera, radio, VCR
low-light video camera, GPS time
inserter, VCR
Equipment
Low-light video camera
Super Circuits PC164C
~ $ 140
Video Time Inserter
KIWI-OSD w/GPS receiver
~ $ 250
Information and Predictions
IOTA
www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm
Yahoo IOTAoccultations
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/IOTAoccultations/
Super Circuits
www.supercircuits.com
KIWI-OSD
www.pfdsystems.com/kiwiosd.html
Information and Predictions
Steve Preston’s Prediction website
www.asteroidoccultation.com
Derek Breit website
www.poyntsource.com/New/Google.htm
Asteroid Occultations Report Website
www.asteroidoccultation.com/observations
Pages by Brad Timerson
www.fingerlakessynthetics.com/occultations/GrazeMaps.html
www.fingerlakessynthetics.com/AstOccult/