Observers Needed for Tonight's Backlunda Occultation
New: 2003 March 7Please let me know your plans for the occultation by Backlunda Friday night/Saturday morning; we need more observers for good coverage of the event. This is the occultation of 11.4-mag. TYC 1910-00493-1 by (856) Backlunda. The star is at J2000 R.A. 7h 32m 05.2s, Dec. +24 deg. 07' 59", in Gemini about 5 deg. southwest of Pollux, about 2.5 deg. west of kappa Gem (which is due south of Pollux), and about 12' north of a pair of 7th-mag. stars. A central occultation is expected to last 12 seconds with a 3- magnitude drop. The weather forecast is quite favorable along the whole path in the USA, passing over or near Ft. Davis, Odessa, and Abilene, TX at 7:25 UT (1:25 am CST); just n. of Denton, TX and over s.e. Okla. at 7:26 UT; over Arkansas at 7:27 UT; just n. of Memphis and over Nashville, TN at 7:28 UT (1:28 am CST); near Knoxville, TN at 7:29 UT (2:29 am EST); and across northern North Carolina and southernmost Virginia (Chesapeake, VA near n. limit) at 7:30 UT (2:30 am EST). Updated path maps and an annotated finder chart can be found at Preston's and the IOTA Web sites given in the more general message that I sent last night. My last message about this event will be sent by about 1h UT March 8 (8 pm EST), when I plan to leave to try to observe the event myself. ________________________________________________ Stations for the Backlunda occultation of 2003 March 7/8 Below is a list of observer stations sorted by distance from Steve Preston's updated central line. Distances are given in km measured perpendicularly from the central line. The time gives the updated time (U.T. of March 1) of closest approach, when the occultation should occur, within an accuracy of about +/-0.2 minute, at the location. You only need to monitor the star for an occultation within a four-minute period centered on the time of closest approach for your location (to check for occultations by possible satellites of Sapientia). You can search for your city or name with a word processor to find your time and distance from the predicted central line. If your station is not in the list, send me the coordinates of the place where you plan to observe (in the USA, you can just specify an address or highway intersection) and I'll add that station for a later message. Please let me know if you plan to monitor the star for an occultation, and I will send out a new version of this list with your track marked as occupied. This will help for positioning mobile observers. I will put items in the "C" (code) column, to indicate commitments to observe from fixed sites and weather probabilities, after I have heard from several of you. Currently, there are no known observers in the northern half of the path in California, the area with the best weather prospects for this event. So Sandy Bumgarner and Ed Morana, I suggest that you go there, to sites 50 km north and 15 km north, respectively, to fill in that hole. Hopefully, someone in or near Sacramento will observe to cover the area just inside the southern limit. More mobile observers would help cover the path better. ______________________________________________ NOTE: The table needs to be displayed and/or printed with a fixed- space font such as Courier for the columns to line up properly. In the e-mail message, the lines are long enough that some (or many) of the lines will wrap; a plain ASCII text version of this is here. As can be seen from the list, observers some distance from the path have a chance to see the occultation, and observers at least within the +/-1-sigma range (distance 86 km N. to 86 km S.) are strongly encouraged to attempt observation; observations to the +/-2-sigma range (138 km N. to 138 km S.) could also be of value. Under C, * will be a committed fixed-site observer, V = * with video, and m = tentative location for mobile observer, and M = tentative location for mobile video observer. Dist. U.T. W.Long. Lat. h City/ State/ Observer or km C h m o o m Town Country Observatory 191N 7 27.0 97.530 35.480 0 Oklahoma City OK approximate 190N -- Northern limit with very unlikely 3-sigma north shift 188N 7 29.9 84.490 38.060 0 Lexington KY via Charles Allen 186N 7 27.5 95.894 35.975 0 Tulsa, OK Gerry Mandries 178N 7 25.6 101.894 33.537 0 LUBBOCK, TX P. BELL - BAMBERGA 165N 7 30.9 77.475 37.847 0 Doswell VA I-95 exit 141N 7 30.8 77.640 37.648 64 RICHMOND VA DONALD A. MCAFEE 138N 7 30.9 77.370 37.610 0 Mchncsvl VA Ken Wilson 138N -- Northern limit with unlikely but possible 2-sigma north shift 135N 7 30.8 77.551 37.595 0 Richmond VA Randy Tatum vid. 134N 7 30.9 77.261 37.560 0 Cold Harbor, VA Arethusa site 109N 7 30.4 79.969 37.473 400 Fincastl VA John Goss RVAS 105N 7 30.9 76.717 37.269 35 Williams , VA William&Mary College 98N 7 27.0 96.669 34.875 0 Ada, OK Jim Waller 94N 7 30.7 77.400 37.220 0 PETERSBURG VA 88N 7 30.9 76.376 37.087 6 Langley ,VA Hampton 16in pe 86N 7 29.3 86.450 36.990 0 BowlGren KY Hackney,Wright,etc. 86N -- Northern limit with very possible 1-sigma north shift 80N 7 27.3 95.500 35.084 65 Conway, AR AR SkyObs,C.Sherrod 12" 79N 7 30.4 80.079 37.212 490 Roanoke VA Michael Good RVAS 79N 7 30.8 76.374 37.006 9 Hampton, VA Charles Evans 77N 7 30.7 77.584 37.079 0 DINWIDDIE VA I85 exit 73N 7 30.7 77.393 37.035 0 Carson VA I95 exit 70N 7 30.3 80.400 37.130 0 CHRISTIANSBURG VA 67N 7 30.8 76.436 36.905 2 Suffolk, Tidewater Com.Col.Obs.C 63N 7 30.7 77.400 36.950 0 STONY CREEK VA 61N 7 26.7 97.193 34.341 293 ARDMORE, OK CARL SCHWEERS 61N 7 30.8 76.393 36.848 3 Chesapeake VA Dennis Rowley, C8 52N 7 25.5 100.917 32.705 121 SNYDER TX VINSON~EDWARD E 52N m 7 25.5 100.931 32.699 718 Snyder, TX Mitch Brumbelow, 20cmN 51N 7 30.6 77.880 36.870 0 ALBERTA VA 50N 7 30.6 77.470 36.840 0 Jarratt VA I95 exit 49N 7 30.1 81.080 36.950 0 WYTHEVILLE VA 37N 7 25.5 100.921 32.547 674 Dunn, TX Ed Vinson, 7.6cmF Antigone 35N-- 7 30.5 78.000 36.733 0 *** Northern Limit 33N 7 30.5 78.120 36.730 0 SOUTH HILL VA possible site 33N 7 30.6 77.540 36.690 0 EMPORIA VA possible site 31N 7 25.0 102.179 31.869 853 MIDLAND, TX J. ROSE 30N 7 28.3 90.716 35.827 0 Jonesbor R Paul Qualtieri, 10-in. 28N 7 29.1 86.800 36.430 0 Greenbriar TN Rick Mellinger 28N 7 30.1 80.740 36.760 0 HILLSVILLE VA possible site 27N 7 30.7 76.183 36.527 0 Moyock, NC possible site 25N M Dunham mobile - current plan 23N 7 30.6 77.565 36.605 0 SKIPPERS VA I95 exit 19N 7 30.2 79.870 36.670 0 MARTINSVILLE VA possible site 15N 7 24.3 104.022 30.6712069 FORT DAVIS TX U.TEX./MCDONALD 14N 7 30.8 75.829 36.385 1 n. Duck NC planning only 13N 7 30.7 75.978 36.387 0 Barco, NC possible site 12N 7 30.5 77.604 36.509 0 Brewers xrds NC possible site 11N 7 30.6 76.793 36.445 10 Gatesvil NC Norfolk A.S.Observing 8N V 7 24.3 103.986 30.6201597 Ft. Davis TX LimpiaObs,P.Armstrong 8N 7 26.9 96.138 34.184 171 Lone Sta s.,TX W Barry Smith, 24" 6N 7 29.1 86.514 36.260 0 nr. Nashv.,TN Warren Kirbo, 16"L 6N 7 25.0 102.124 31.627 878 ODESSA,TX J. STAFFORD, J. CAMP 0S-- 7 30.5 78.000 36.426 0 Center NC test UT 7:30:26 2S 7 29.1 86.300 36.210 0 Lebanon TN Tim Farris Cumb. U. 5S 7 30.5 77.672 36.363 50 I95x168 NC903 Pierces xrds. 8S 7 28.9 87.243 36.043 222 Antioch TN Dudley Pitts 11S 7 28.1 90.999 35.390 0 Hickory, AR Tillman Kennon 13S 7 29.0 86.805 36.052 345 Nashvill TN DyerObs.,c/oDegenhardt 14S 7 30.4 78.410 36.320 0 HENDERSON NC possible site 16S 7 30.5 77.722 36.268 50 I95x160 NC561 Beaverdam 16S 7 30.7 75.714 36.098 2 KittyHwk NC planning only 17S M Roger Venable 30S 7 29.9 81.412 36.251 945 Boone NC D.Caton,DarkSkyObs 32S M suggested for R. Nugent 33S 7 30.4 77.791 36.125 44 Whitakers, NC 99Oct Warren 35S-- 7 30.4 78.000 36.117 0 *** Southern Limit 36S 7 30.7 75.599 35.906 2 NagsHead NC WhaleboneJct. 39S 7 29.5 83.870 36.080 0 Knoxvill N Nick Cook 41S 7 27.7 92.257 34.822 155 NLitRock AR 44S 7 30.0 80.797 36.120 337 Elkin, NC R. Venable, 28cm Adelheid 44S 7 24.3 103.591 30.2741603 Alpine, TX James T. Walker,12"LX 47S 7 29.0 86.344 35.797 0 Murpheys , TN Scott Degenhardt,12.5"L 48S 7 30.1 79.810 36.070 0 Grensboro NC Steve Danford 48S 7 30.6 75.546 35.797 1 OreInlet NC s.end camping 49S 7 28.3 89.899 35.255 76 MEMPHIS TN JAMES E. HONEY 52S M Roger Venable remote 53S 7 30.2 78.910 36.000 0 Durham NC Joe Mack 53S 7 30.4 77.800 35.940 0 RockyMt. NC TRAC via Landen xx A4 61S 7 30.3 77.948 35.878 50 I95x132 NC58 Seely Creek 62S 7 30.1 79.687 35.947 259 Greensbo NC David Connor, 10mi. se 62S 7 28.2 89.888 35.136 88 MEMPHIS TN BEN HUDGENS D 63S 7 30.2 78.878 35.910 91 Raleigh, J.W. Jerry Watson 32 CM L 63S 7 30.2 79.051 35.914 162 ChapelHl NC MoreheadOb. Melvin xxA4 66S 7 30.3 77.975 35.836 50 I95x127 NC97 Winstead xrds. 74S 7 30.2 78.790 35.807 0 Cary, NC Mark Lang new 2002 74S 7 26.4 97.048 33.054 183 Lewisville TX AAAA, Weems Smith Hutto 74S 7 30.3 78.008 35.762 46 Lamm,NC x121 *possible site only* 74S 7 26.1 97.732 32.787 290 WEATHERF TEX. MIKE COUKE - DIANA 74S 7 30.3 78.008 35.762 46 Lamm,NC I95&US264 99Oct Dunham 75S 7 30.3 78.060 35.760 0 Sims, NC Billy Gladsen 77S 7 30.1 79.036 35.784 79 Cary, NC Cheruskia JeffBarschaw&MarkLang 81S 7 30.3 78.053 35.702 44 RockRidge,NC95&42 99Oct Melvin 81S 7 30.4 77.063 35.636 15 Mineola,NC 17&171 99Oct Stewart 83S 7 26.4 96.670 33.100 0 Allen, TX Keith Shank, C11 & ST6 86S -- Southern limit with very possible 1-sigma south shift 88S 7 30.3 77.380 35.600 0 GRNVILLE NC FLOYD E. MATTHEIS xx A 91S 7 29.9 80.480 35.691 213 Salisbry NC Catawba C.Ob,Wilson xxD 92S 7 26.2 97.375 32.746 198 FORT WORTH TX DON GARLAND - DIANA 94S 7 26.1 97.500 32.681 55 GRANDPRA TX FLEMING~TOM E 96S 7 30.1 78.586 35.601 91 Garner, Malcolm Smith 13.1IN L 96S 7 26.1 97.456 32.670 206 BENBROOK TX JOHN WILLIAMS 97S 7 29.9 80.350 35.640 0 s.Burlin , NC 3 Colleges Obs.,Danford 101S 7 30.2 78.280 35.540 0 Selma,NC x97 *possible site only* 103S 7 26.4 96.604 32.921 154 Garland, TX Paul J. Newman 103S 7 26.3 96.795 32.852 174 Dallas, TX John L. Cotton 107S 7 26.4 96.460 32.930 0 Rockwall TX Hafey, Chaz 110S 7 26.3 96.794 32.786 200 Dallas, TX Pandt Zimme 111S 7 25.9 98.217 32.220 244 Stephenv , TX Douglas Mayo, 8"C 112S 7 29.4 83.472 35.445 625 Bryson C NC Simon Skiles, 4in.L 112S 7 30.5 75.532 35.220 0 CpHatras NC planning only A 120S 7 30.1 78.550 35.380 0 Benson,N 5 x81 *possible site only* 122S 7 28.8 86.193 35.126 294 BELVIDER TN C.Smith c/oDegenhardt D 126S 7 26.2 96.894 32.581 226 De Soto, TX Donald Stotz, s. Dallas 126S 7 29.8 80.558 35.373 219 Concord, NC G. Roger Harvey 29in. 128S 7 30.1 78.610 35.310 0 Dunn,NC x73 *possible site only* 132S 7 29.7 81.180 35.320 0 Dallas NC 138S -- Southern limit with unlikely but possible 2-sigma south shift 139S 7 29.6 81.670 35.250 0 BoilingS NC Tom English 143S 7 29.7 80.830 35.220 0 Charlott NC Gayle Riggsbee 148S 7 30.0 78.899 35.141 52 Fayettev , NC Jan Dabrowski 6 IN L 153S 7 28.6 86.781 34.768 230 Madison, AL David Nance, C8 155S 7 28.9 85.471 34.894 222 Trenton, GA? Ned Smith 10"LvM.Kaz. 161S 7 28.6 86.570 34.720 0 Madison AL David Nance 161S 7 30.0 78.696 35.008 42 Stedman, NC Johnny Horne 10IN L 169S 7 28.6 86.550 34.650 0 Redstone nal,AL Dave Lanteigne 169S 7 29.6 80.722 34.986 189 Charlott C T.S. Gayle Riggsbee 16I Cass 185S 7 29.5 81.180 34.844 204 nr. Rock l, SC Brown, Jim C8 190S -- Southern limit with very unlikely 3-sigma south shift 202S 7 29.3 82.265 34.665 0 Fountain , SC David Anderson 16in. 207S 7 29.8 79.000 34.601 0 Hestertown, NC James Hook 216S 7 25.8 97.200 31.542 60 WACO TX MCANALLY~JOHN W. 217S 7 28.4 86.840 34.170 0 Cullman AL Scott Smith 243S 7 29.9 77.930 34.220 0 Wilmngtn NC J. Cantwell bad em 260S 7 26.7 93.621 32.329 49 Shrevprt LA Krajci Email bad 267S 7 27.8 89.385 33.288 0 FrenchCa ad,MS RainWaterObs C14,32in. 274S 7 28.9 83.400 33.950 0 Athens GA Scott Shaw 286S 7 28.7 84.318 33.779 320 Atlanta GA Fernbank Sci. Ctr. David Dunham, 2003 March 7, 6 UT