Occultation by (7) Iris Observed n. of Petersburg, VA - New 2007 April 10, 17h UT

A Limovie analysis will be needed to determine the event times

On 2007 April 10, I recorded the occultation of UCAC2 39104329 by 
(7) Iris from Walthall, Virginia, behind a motel at an I-95 exit 
between Colonial Heights and Chester.  I wanted to go farther south, 
but ran out of time; my location was about halfway between the 
predicted northern limit and central line.  I used an 8-in. SCT, 
f/3.3 focal reducer, PC164C, and I3 image intensifier.  I did not 
notice in real time the small (0.2 mag.) drop, but I think that at 
about 2:34:45 UT the Iris/star combination brightened a little; the 
recording, obtained with a digital 8mm camcorder, will need to be 
processed with LiMovie to get the actual times.  About 15 min. after 
the occultation, the star and Iris were clearly separated. 

The Astro Meteo weather forecast was somewhat doubtful for the area, 
and it stayed mostly cloudy in the early afternoon, so I decided not 
to leave before rush hour, which precluded setting up two stations.  
But the satellite images indicated that it would be clear across 
south- central and southeastern Virginia, and most of North 
Carolina, so I hurriedly packed and left at the end of the evening 
rush hour.  In the rush, I forgot to check the telescope box to see 
if there was a focal reducing lens & visual back (I did verify that 
the finder was on the scope, but didn't check the other item, which 
turned out to be missing), and I also forgot to grab a flashlight. 
But it turned out these items (including 2 flashlights, one red) 
were in the small case with my video gear, so the observation was 
saved. 

So far, I've only heard from Dan Caton who tried to observe it from 
Dark Sky Observatory in w. N. Carolina, but low clouds moved in to 
mess up his drift scan; his location was at least 2 sigma s. of the 
predicted s. limit. The IR satellite image after the occultation 
showed that it was clear in the path over most of Illinois, Indiana, 
Kentucky, and part of s. Ohio, as well as the Mid-Atlantic regions 
mentioned before.  I hope someone else in the path was also 
successful. 

Predictions for the occultation are on Steve Preston's Web site.

David Dunham