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International Occultation Timing Association European Section |
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Occultations by |
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Moon |
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Asteroid |
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Planet |
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Pluto, TNOs |
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Astrometry |
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Sol.Eclipse |
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Contact us :
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The star HIP 107302
with visual
magnitude 6m0 is
occulted by Jupiter on the 3rd of August. This is the brightest
star, which will be occulted for the next more than 100 years
visible from Europe. In the near future, there is only on more
occultation with a similar bright star, but this is only visible
from western southern America (Chile...). For the rest of us, no
similar occultation will take place for generations!
Therefore,
its not only a spectacular show for the "Year of Astronomy
2009", but also a great opportunity to gain information about
the Jovian atmosphere by earthbound astronomy.
But keep in
mind, that even a 6th magnitude star is hard to see on Jovian's
limb, when it disappears or reappears! You need an excellent air
quality and a telescope perhaps larger than 10 inch in
diameter.
IOTA-ES will maintain a special website
http://jupiter2009.iota-es.de
all over the year for this event, giving all necessary
informations for a successful observation as well as
Using
WINOCCULT, a prediction for this event has been generated in the
following figure:
A
movie has been generated, to give you the imagination even before
the real event. And you see, what you will miss, if you don't
look! The circle in the center of the movie is the earth, which
gives the position of the star. The ring system can be seen on the
movie, which does NOT occult the star and several jovian
satellites as well.The movie starts at 3rd of August, 18h UTC and
ends at 4th of August, 1h UTC.
In
the next months more informations will be published, concerning
the history and future of
stellar occultations by Jupiter, its scientific rational, about
observational techniques and post event data analysis as
well. We encourage other groups, to send infos about their
observational program, about ideas and technology, in order to
present their material on this website.
Here
informations about the following subjects can be found:
Send
material and infos as well as requests for infos to
info@iota-es.de