------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1232 1997 Sep 12 17.40UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.demon.co.uk/astronomer ------------------------------------------------------------------- OCCULTATION OF PPM 709119 BY 314 (ROSALIA) Richard Miles e-mails: Please note that a fairly favourable event is predicted for tonight September 12/13 involving the asteroid, 314 ROSALIA. This 62 km diameter object is predicted to occult the star, PPM 709119 (V=9.8 approx.) located at: RA(2000): 21h 34m 07s Dec(2000) -8deg 11'53" at 23:55-00:07 UT, mid-time = 00:01 UT The maximum duration of the event is expected to be about 7 seconds. The star may dip in brightness by about 3 magnitudes (roughly a factor of 15). The asteroid will be visible in larger telescopes at around V=13.4, diameter 0.051". The star being occulted is located about 1 deg east of the star, xi Aquarii (not xi Aquilae as previously indicated). A finder chart can be found at: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~baa/314.gif Note that from the UK, the event takes place at an altitude above the horizon in the range, 18-26 deg. The projected transverse shadow width will be about 90 km if coincident with the UK. Current predictions are that the shadow path will cross southern England, southern Norway, northern Denmark -however the uncertainty in the track is such that it may shift north or south such that any observer in northern/western Europe may witness a positive event. Observers are encouraged to attempt this event. Please send preliminary reports to myself and I shall relay these en-bloc to other observers on the list (currently 48 observers). (Please also e-mail a copy to the TA Editor). Good luck - especially with the weather, Richard Miles Guy M Hurst