About the International Occultation Timing Association / European Section (IOTA/ES)
The European Section of the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA/ES) IOTA-ES is the group in Europe which provides techniques, personnel and research for all kinds of occultation astronomy, which covers occul- tations of stars by the Moon, by main belt asteroids, by planets as well as by bodies of the outer solar system. These occultation phenomena will tell us about the shape and possible atmosphere of the bodies and in some cases of the stars, where a body moves in front.
The observer gets a fascinating insight into our solar system with an unprecedented angular resolution.
The scientific non-profit organisation IOTA/ES e.V. (registered in Hannover, Germany) is open to all people interested in occultation astronomy, either as a technology expert, observer, researcher or just a person who loves this special kind of nature in the solar system.
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For an annual fee of 20 Euros members of IOTA/ES receive additional information, such as the English language publication “Journal for Occultation Astronomy” (JOA), which is produced in Germany for world- wide distribution. They become part of the worldwide IOTA, which has members on all continents, all devoted to the same goal.
IOTA/ES has about 100 members (individual or corporate).
Every year IOTA/ES organises the European Symposium on Occultation Projects (ESOP), the annual science meeting of IOTA/ES. In general it takes place in different European countries each year at the end of August. ESOP conferences (in English) are a forum where advanced amateur, semi-professional and professional astronomers can present and discuss new occultation obser- vations and techniques and promote new observing campaigns.
With our worldwide contacts with amateur and professional astronomers, who are working in the same subject areas, we can help all members to work in the field of occultations and help to maintain international contacts. The online meeting places /information sources for prospective observers are the website www.IOTA-ES.de and the PLANOCCULT minor planets internet list run by Belgian amateurs.
