Event Details

Object: (124) Alkeste
Target Star: TYC 1321-00317-1
Event Date: 2015 March 22 UT
Observation Window: 03:02 – 03:06 UT

Sense-Up: 16x
RA: 06:05:04.9 (J2000)
DEC: +20:21:39
Constellation: Orion
Star Magnitude: 11.9
Magnitude Drop: 1.7 (NOTE: this is mag drop for occultation, not appulse)

Star Altitude: 67 degrees SW
Moon Distance: 66 degrees
Moon Phase: 4%

Notes

Viewed from Kingman, (124) Alkeste will pass very close by the target star. This is called an appulse rather than an occultation because the main belt asteroid will come close to but not fully occult the target star.

Predicted shadow path for (124) Alkest on 2015 March 22 UT

This is a practice campaign for RECON participants attending the Kingman workshop. As a demonstration for the group, we will sign up for the event as a single group on Occult Watcher.

Either before or after the event, you should make a short recording of your position information using the switch on the front of the IOTA-VTI box.  Adjust the switch to POSITION, record the screen showing your latitude/longitude for 3-5 seconds, and then adjust the switch back to TIME.

Thank you for keeping track of your observations using the RECON Observation Logsheet

Star Training Set

Star training set for Alkeste, 2015/03/22 03:01 UT
Object            RA         Dec     mag  sep  mel
Betelgeuse     05:55:10.3 +07:24:25  0.4 13.17  64
Alhena         06:37:42.8 +16:23:57  1.9  8.69  74
62Chi2Ori      06:03:55.2 +20:08:18  4.5  0.35  66
PPM 095290     06:03:06.9 +20:35:11  7.7  0.51  65
PPM 095360     06:05:16.8 +20:27:59  9.4  0.12  66
Alkeste        06:05:04.9 +20:21:39 13.4        66 0.04

Finder Charts

The following chart was generate using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter, plotted to show field in camera when using a diagonal.  North is up on diagram.

Starfield for (124) Alkeste showing field at 30 arcmins. Creasted using AAVSO VSP.

Images of Star Field

The following star field image was provided by Marc Buie. Additional images are welcome!

Image showing starfield for (124) Alkeste provided by Marc Buie.

Here’s another version in which we have inverted brightness and rotated so north is up.

Image of starfield for (124) Alkeste taken by Marc Buie. Image has been reoriented with north up.

Uploading data

To upload your video files and Observation Logsheet, go to http://spikard.boulder.swri.edu/upload.html.

Event Log

Following the event, please let us know how it went using our event reporting form.