Grazing occultation of SAO 78233 recorded in NJ - New 2006 May 2

The star's close duplicity was not confirmed during real-time observation

     I observed near the northern end of the graze zone near I-295 
west of Swedesboro, New Jersey and had 3, maybe 4, short 
occultations.  The D's and R's looked sharp, no evidence of the 
star's duplicity with the real-time watching. I'll have to review 
the tape more closely, and also look for the third star, to see if I 
have any events of it.  I set up a second telescope about 0.5 km 
farther south, but made a mistake in dividing equipment between the 
two sites, so that I didn't have a working video recorder at the 2nd 
site when I visited it 5 min. before the graze started, and didn't 
have time for another back-and-forth to correct that.  So I only 
have the recording at the one location.  Did anyone else observe the 
graze?  It was a fine night, clear, not too cold, with no insects or 
dew.  I recorded 3 total occultations after the graze.  The location 
was just west of Heron Dr. on a large grassy area north of a 
commercial center (behind which the other telescope was set up). 

 From the previous night's message:

         Mid-Atlantic expeditions/occultations update
                 Grazing Occultations

DATE   Day  EDT     Star    Mag  % alt  CA  Location

May  1 Mon 20:37 SAO 78233  7.5 20+ 42 14N Narvon&ChaddsFord,PA;Sun -7d

Notes:

May 1:  The star may be a close triple, with equal components 
separated by 0.25" in PA 159 deg., and a 9.2-mag. 3rd star 3.1" away 
in PA 262. See the top of this message for more about it; the Sun's 
altitude will be -7.6 deg. near I-295 in NJ and experience with past 
grazes shows that the sky will be dark enough with telescopic views 
to see the 7.5-mag. star well then (and o.k. also in s.e. Penn.).  
It's a total occultation in the Washington, DC area, but will be 
difficult there at 5 deg. altitude. [that should be -5 deg.] 

Detailed maps of the path were included in the pre-event predictions 
and plans for this event here.
_____________________________________

David Dunham, 2006 May 2
Phones home 301-474-4722; office 240-228-5609; car 301-526-5590
emails dunham@starpower.net or office david.dunham@jhuapl.edu