Preliminary Report of the Chiron Appulse on 2003 March 29
No dimmings of the star have been reported in the south side of the path, and south of it.
New: 2003 March 31
Walter Morgan observed last night's (2060) Chiron appulse from a site near Willows, California, northwest of Sacramento about 160 km south of Steve Preston's central line and about 50 km north of his southern limit, but no occultation occurred as he watched his video recording. He couldn't go much father north, where there were thicker clouds. Jim McCormick, 4 km north of the predicted southern limit, also saw no events. As far as I know, nobody else within the predicted path, or north of it, observed the appulse. Several more negative reports (star monitored, no occultation seen) of the appulse have been received south of the path; all of the observations are summarized below. A few others tried, but were not able to monitor the star, mainly due to wind, cirrus, or thicker clouds. There is a very small chance that the path could have passed between Los Gatos and Valencia, CA (1.5-path-width, or 0.7-sigma, south shift), but I think it is more likely that the actual path was a little north of the predicted one. Anyway, thanks to all the observers who tried this rather difficult event but potentially important event. Dist. U.T. W.Long. Lat. h City/ State/ Observer or km C h m o o m Town Country Observatory 160S M11 42.5 122.19 39.55 0 Willows, CA Walter Morgan 208S *11 43.5 112.119 41.1251295 West Point UT Jim McCormick, 16" L 212S--11 42.5 122.000 39.117 0 S.LimitCalif. S. Limit 228S *11 42.6 120.930 39.100 671 Colfax, CA Don Machholz, 10" comet 230S *11 42.7 119.559 39.2741311 Dayton, NV Red Sumner,20cmF6L,NAD27 380S V11 42.4 121.727 37.719 160 Livermore CA Ed Morana 438S V11 42.3 122.055 37.205 732 Los Gatos CA Oakridge Obs.,16"L,R.Baldridge 866S V11 42.4 118.564 34.407 393 VALENCIA CA FRANK ANET B 884S V11 42.5 117.682 34.3822286 Wrightwood, CA Table Mountain Obs., J.Young 910S *11 42.4 118.121 34.148 239 Pasadena Tony Cook,NAD27,12.5"L/ 946S V11 43.0 111.740 35.1842293 M 689 USNO 1.0m Flagstaff, AZ A. Henden 1096S -- Southern limit with very possible 1-sigma south shift Prediction information about the appulse can be found here. David Dunham, 2003 March 30 UT, 5h UT