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!

WithEnoughObservers

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

And now? Moons of Asteroids? Kalliope and LinusSatelloids!

So…what do I do? Get needed equipment your telescope, known position your telescope, known position shortwave radio, stopwatch shortwave radio, stopwatch low-light video camera, radio, VCR low-light video camera, radio, VCR low-light video camera, GPS time low-light video camera, GPS time inserter, VCR inserter, VCR

Equipment Low-light video camera Super Circuits PC164C Super Circuits PC164C ~ $ 140 Video Time Inserter KIWI-OSD w/GPS receiver ~ $ 250

Information and Predictions IOTAwww.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm Yahoo IOTAoccultations Super Circuits

Information and Predictions Steve Preston’s Prediction website Derek Breit website Asteroid Occultations Report Website Pages by Brad Timerson