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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2957      2013 Oct 24 13.55UT
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      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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(536) MERAPI OCCULTS HIP-55562, 2013 Oct 26, 0356-0357UT
Tim Haymes: 
“Observers in the UK (BE, NL, GDR) have a second opportunity this year to
monitor a stellar occultation by (536) Merapi. This outer main-belt asteroid
was discovered on 1904 May 11 by G.H Peters at Washington. The diameter is
150 to 170 Km. Previous occultations were recorded in 1997, 2005, 2009, 2010
(uncertain), and 2013 Jan.
 
The predicted shadow crosses the SW, S and Eastern UK, south of a line drawn
approximately from Cardiff to Norwich. An observer located further north
will have a reduced probability of seeing an occultation, but a shift in the
track may well bring a pleasing positive result. HIP-55562 will disappear
totally for a few seconds. This link provides additional information.
http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2013_10/1026_536_30264_Map.gif
 
The star (in Leo, 25 deg altitude in the East) is sufficiently bright
(magnitude 10) to observe visually with suitable optical aid or record with
CCD/video. The maximum duration of occultation is expected to be 5.0
seconds. Durations will be less than 5 seconds the further an observer is
from the centre of the shadow which is predicted to be near the UK south
coast.
 
Timings of the Disappearance and Reappearance (D-R) UT of the star will be
acknowledged and reported to the European Asteroid Occultation Network
(EAON).  Results may be browsed here: 
http://www.euraster.net/results/index.html
 
This event is of interest due to the brightness of the star, subsequent ease
of location and likely observation, and a shadow track over a high density
of possible observers. Predictions are prone to errors of about 1 track
width.”

Editor: Please send reports to Mark Kidger of TA and also to Tim Haymes
(including "no occultation"):
tvh.observatory@btinternet.com

SUPERNOVA 2013fg IN NGC 2578 (STUART PARKER)
2013fg  Sep  7.26   08 21 22.44  -13 18 37.0  15.4r 27  “W   27  “N 
N. Morrell: Las Campanas Observatory report spectrum Sept 4 with
2.5-m du Pont telescope showing a type-Ia supernova, roughly ten days after
maximum light.

SUPERNOVA 2013fh IN ESO 550-G26 (STUART PARKER)
2013fh  Aug 30.68   04 21 38.20  -17 55 41.4  18.5r 21  “E    2  “N
N. Morrell: Las Campanas Observatory report spectrum Sept 4 with
2.5-m du Pont telescope showing an evolved type-Ia supernova. It is very
similar to SN 2004eo at 54 days past maximum.

SUPERNOVA 2013fi (ZHIJIAN XU AND XING GAO, KISS)
2013fi  Aug 31.89   03 04 38.57  +42 13 49.4  18.1   2.9”E    2.4”N 
Nozomu Tominaga: spectrum Sept. 9 with the Okayama 188-cm
telescope reveals the transient to be a normal type-Ia supernova at several
days after maximum light

Guy M Hurst