(328) Gudrun Occultation Videotaped at Marston, MD

Updated: 2005 Aug. 11

     Read below how Curt Roelle successfully observed this difficult 
occultation.  It was too hazy to record it from my home in 
Greenbelt, MD, where I was able to locate a 10th-mag. star about
0.6 deg. north of the target star about a minute before the event,
but everything was blank south of it (that is, no sign of the target 
star, just too faint for my 8-in. SCT, f/3.3 reducer and PC164C
camera with the haze that was present; my camera can't integrate 
like Curt's can, and that was the key to his success, as he 
describes.  The prediction information about the event is here.
__________________

From: Roelle, Curtis W [curtis.w.roelle@lmco.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 8:30 AM
To: Dunham, David
Subject: RE: Good Gudrun occ'n Thurs. am, n.e. USA; Julia update; IOTA
mtg, Nov.

David,

I observed using from MTO using the 12.5" f6 Newtonian and did 
record a videotaped event.  The observatory was opened, the 
electronics were attached and tested, and a clear WWV signal was 
obtained. 

As you pointed out, the field around (328) Gudrun is rather sparse.  
As a result I spent the next with a very slow drive corrector star 
hopping all the way from 2 Aurigae down to the target star.  
Nevertheless, slewing with the StellaCam EX was a pleasure because 
every star -- and then some -- on each of the finder charts is 
visible on my large 9" 12V DC TV/VCR monitor. 

The target star was located only a minute or two before the 
scheduled event time.  Unfortunately, during the prolonged star hop 
the batteries in the short wave radio went dead.  I could not remove 
my hand from the controller to change them. If I had, then the 
target star could not have been acquired prior to event time it was 
so close.  (I have a 2-speed drive corrector that I plan to test out 
on the 12.5" for use next time.) 

Once I had the star centered the video integration was switched off 
so that the VCR could record in real time.  Then while the VCR 
recorded I scrambled to unload the old batteries, reload the new 
ones, and reacquire WWV which by that time had become very weak. 

A glance at the wristwatch indicated that the event time had come 
and gone.  Still, I kept tuning until the time signals were 
reacquired and a couple of good minute tones captured. 

I rewound the tape while still in the observatory, replayed it, and 
was surprised to see a nearly 4 second long event shortly after the 
x128 video integration was turned off. 

On the weekend I'll try to reduce the data.  Looks like it will be 
back to the stopwatch method for this one. At least the event is on 
videotape and can be replayed over and over as needed. 

David, thank you for the heads up on this event.  It was a beautiful 
night out this morning. 

Curtis Roelle