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Occult status

Occult status. Current version 4.0.9.10 – stable and reliable Current beta version 4.0.9.11 – has only 3 minor fixes. Details are in the ‘List Version Changes’ menu option. Occult future revisions.

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Occult status

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  1. Occult status • Current version 4.0.9.10 – stable and reliable • Current beta version 4.0.9.11 – has only 3 minor fixes. Details are in the ‘List Version Changes’ menu option.

  2. Occult future revisions • Next major revision will be associated with a revision of the main star catalogue used for asteroidal predictions. • Will also be keeping an eye out for useful downloads that will enhance data availability. If you come across a useful dataset for our activities, let me know! • I may need to add functionality to handle the situation where the WDS file on Vizier has not been Gzipped.

  3. Occult data sets • Updates of asteroidal observations, lunar observations, and binary asteroid discoveries, continues smoothly. [Monitor the IAU announcements for binary asteroids] • Periodic update of XZ catalogue for doubles and variables is almost ‘routine’. Main issue is to coordinate with updates with Brian Loader (NZ)

  4. Asteroid predictions • Good to see star catalogue comparison is being used. • Caution – cannot assume any one catalogue is ‘always’ the best. Always need to apply judgement • PPMX may be ‘more’ reliable on average • PPMXL subset incorporating UCAC3 & CMC14 has been withheld 12 months. May include UCAC4. This subset will likely be the basis for future OCCULT catalogues

  5. Asteroid observations • Data collection is working well. • Total number of events recorded to date = 1810. In 2010 to date, 167 [total for 2009 = 211]. • Main issue that causes problems – situations where ‘dubious’ recordings are ‘interpreted’ to give ‘definitive’ observations. • 2nd issue: need to ensure time base integrity – especially with multi-station deployments.

  6. Lunar occultations • Main achievement – completion of Archiving of past observations. Huge task... But now all past observations are ‘safe’. • Double star discoveries and measurements an important ‘new’ area of lunar occultations • Occult Watcher has capability to ‘announce’ lunar occs of interesting doubles – but needs someone to generate a feed for the region (eg Nth America). • If new double found, follow-up observations can usually be made the following month in Europe or Japan – but needs global coordination.

  7. Lunar occultations • Lunar occultations also detecting errors in Hipparcos data for some stars. • For asteroidal occultations, can be useful to see if the star has been observed in lunar occultation - & check reliability of position/proper motion. Occult has capability to assess [Lunar Observations, Analyse for star position]. Should treat as supplemental to Star Catalogue comparison.

  8. Lunar grazes • Dave Gault will be talking about the issues later.... • There are still quite a few observed grazes that have not been reported...

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