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astronomical prediction

Sometimes we observe occultations of stars by asteroids and do not know where to get the predictions. Here describes how to obtain them.

The occultations of stars by asteroids help accurately determine its position and shape.
Although there are many computer programs for making predictions, has many errors it is necessary to make last minute corrections. One of the best pages where predictions with these corrections, and the whole world is Steve Preston :

Site

Steve Preston

The description of the data table is:

Event Date / Time: Event date / time : TU moment when occultation occurs.

Rank: ranking - This related to the probability that the concealment becomes effective on-site expected. The higher the number the more secure the observation, although a ranking event with 100% may not be visible. In the ranking there are considerations about the brightness of the star, drop size, etc..

Asteroid: Asteroid: describes the number and magnitude of the asteroid name hider.

Star: Star: describes the catalog number of the hidden star and its magnitude.

Visibility: visibility zone: countries where concealment is visible. DM

DA: are respectively: Fall of magnitude, duration in seconds and elongation with the Sun very
dM small are difficult to follow, like D too short. If A is less than 30 degrees, will be at dusk or dawn and near the Sun

Details: Details: go to the maps page of Steve Preston. ( date is the last update ).

If you go to this last point, see a map like this:

DETAILS ON

detailed site map. The circles on the continent represent the position of major cities. The oval to the right, passing under the shadow of the asteroid is the error. (In this case small).

asteroidal occultations previous map

1) - Data from the star are:

Mv: visual magnitude

RA: Right Ascension - Dec : Declination (both 2000),

2) - Data from the asteroid or planet are

V.mag.: visual magnitude

diam: km diameter. and arcseconds.

m: proper motion in seconds. arc per hour. p: parallax

Ref: source of information.

Dm:
magnitude drop
Max. dur: maximum duration in seconds. (This time limit would be whether the concealment was central).

Sun: distance from the Sun in degrees.

Moon: Distance in degrees to the Moon, and phase as shown in%. (0% new. 100% full).

3) - Letter seeker:

is a letter from heaven a more or less large area to find the approximate area where the occultation will occur. Within it, there is a dotted rectangle is the area covered by the Charter and Rules.

4) - Error:

is the maximum error of the asteroid's trajectory. It can be seen clearly here that the prediction step of the shadow is to the south of Chile and Argentina, but the dotted lines represent error which could pass the shadow. Sometimes this a lot further than here.

So while the central line does not pass through his place of observation, if you are within the error zone, chances are you can view the occultation.

addition on the site are maps of the sky and more detailed data, but with this info is enough to find the star and observe the occultation.