All times UT unless otherwise noted

2014 RASC Handbook Events

Updated 2014-03-02

Noteworthy events (marked in bold type in the main table on the next 2 pages):

Mar. 19: A 2011 occultation showed an unusual shape for the M-class (metallic spectral signature) asteroid (135) Hertha.

Mar. 20: Alpha Leonis = Regulus = SAO 98967 = HIP 49669, spectral type B7V, is the brightest star ever predicted to be occulted by a sizeable asteroid in North America. IOTA plans a major effort for the event, including plans to develop an app that could be used by thousands of cell phone users to help observe it. Regulus spins so quickly that its poles (1.25 milliarcseconds, or mas, apart) have 5 times the surface brightness as the equator (diameter there 1.65 mas). In 2005, Dunham video recorded a nearly grazing occultation of Regulus by the asteroid (166) Rhodope that occurred in Spain. That did not reveal Regulus’ close companion, possibly a white dwarf with a tenth of the primary’s mass and about 15 mas from the primary; the secondary star may be more than 100 times fainter than the primary. Regulus also has an orange dwarf companion, 8.2-mag. SAO 98966 177² away in PA 307°; Erigone will miss that star by about 10² 8 hours later.

Apr. 13: Venus’ 20² disk will be 60% sunlit. Only the dark-side reappearance can be seen. SAO 146220 = HIP 111820, sp. F8.

Jun. 9: Venus’ 13² disk will be 80% sunlit. Only the dark-side reappearance can be seen. SAO 93087 = HIP 12869, sp. A0.

Aug. 13: Normally we don’t include occultations of stars this faint, but Pluto’s moon Charon is of special interest for the New Horizons spacecraft flyby in July 2015. Charon will be 1² east and a little south of Pluto. (Not Included Below)

Sep. 13: Saturn’s moon Rhea will be just over 1¢ east of the planet. SAO 159034 = HIP 74007, sp. F2.

Sep. 15: SAO 129037 = TYC 4674-00425-1, sp. G5. A 12.6-mag. companion 35² away in PA 354° will not be occulted.

Oct. 2: (250) Bettina is an M-class asteroid that might support an unusual shape.

Nov. 8: SAO 75737 = TYC 1231-01670-1, sp. G0. A 10.4-mag. companion 17² away in PA 119° will not be occulted.

Nov. 13: (85) Io is the asteroid, not Jupiter’s moon also named Io. SAO 138490 = TYC 4938-00817-1, sp. F8.

Nov. 20, (3) Juno: It is unusual for a star this bright to be occulted by such a large asteroid; IOTA plans a special effort to observe it, in southern Canada and northern New England. SAO 117176 = HIP 43357, sp. G5.:

Dec. 11: (125) Liberatrix is an M-class asteroid that might support an unusual shape.

               U.T.                           Max                      Star Star   Delta
    Date      Hr Mn  -   Minor Planet    -    Dur   -   Star Name    -  Mag Diam D   Mag -       Mapping Info       - -           Observing Info               -
 -----------  -- --  ---------------------  ------  ------------------ ---- ---- - ----- ---------------------------- ------------------------------------------
 2014 Mar 01  09:27     906 Repsolda           4.9  HIP 53923           9.1      4  5.01 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements DoubleInfo
 2014 Mar 10  03:09     377 Campania          27.5  TYC 0786-00152-1   11.1         2.42 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 12  01:54     381 Myrrha            14.7  TYC 1321-01396-1   10.5         3.93 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 12  11:34     487 Venetia            5.1  TYC 1438-01566-1   10.1         2.16 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 16  10:34     471 Papagena           9.1  TYC 6259-00253-1   11.0         1.82 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 19  02:17     135 Hertha             7.9  TYC 0839-01164-1   11.0         1.66 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 20  06:07     163 Erigone           14.3  HIP 49669           1.3    1   11.10 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 23  03:28      51 Nemausa           11.2  HIP 31495           9.7         2.25 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 27  02:40     142 Polana             3.7  TYC 1342-01134-1    9.4         5.61 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Mar 30  06:56     535 Montague           3.2  TYC 1865-02030-1    9.9         4.52 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Apr 11  03:53      72 Feronia            7.2  TYC 0792-01566-1   10.7         3.07 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Apr 13  12:10      -1 Venus            438.2  HIP 111820          9.0         0.00 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Apr 16  08:42      39 Laetitia          18.9  TYC 5697-02124-1    9.9         1.66 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Apr 21  00:43     776 Berbericia         5.3  TYC 2426-01323-1   10.1         3.16 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 May 03  00:47     102 Miriam            12.5  TYC 4931-00784-1    9.8         4.81 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 May 06  07:21     790 Pretoria          13.3  TYC 6791-01823-1   11.2         1.59 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 May 12  09:06     402 Chloe              5.9  HIP 74513           9.1         3.45 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 May 19  09:59    1093 Freda              7.2  HIP  79192          8.2         4.03 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jun 07  03:56     380 Fiducia            8.7  TYC 6240-00574-1   10.4         2.33 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jun 09  11:54      -1 Venus            273.1  HIP  12869          8.5         0.00 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jun 23  05:48     362 Havnia             7.4  TYC 7401-00323-1   11.5         1.44 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jul 08  04:19     788 Hohensteina       11.8  TYC 5083-00898-1   10.7         1.99 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jul 15  07:51      62 Erato              9.3  TYC 5798-00119-1   10.4         3.07 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jul 16  10:17      39 Laetitia          20.6  TYC 5681-00178-1   10.2         0.66 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jul 19  09:14     611 Valeria            3.7  TYC 0617-00521-1    8.7         5.90 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jul 26  07:26     150 Nuwa              14.5  TYC 0605-01043-1   10.8         2.33 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Jul 28  04:13     805 Hormuthia          7.7  TYC 5180-00385-1   10.4         3.07 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Aug 19  03:46      54 Alexandra         28.4  TYC 6866-02020-1   11.3         0.61 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Aug 20  01:47     232 Russia             2.5  HIP  76622          9.8         5.01 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Aug 24  10:23     393 Lampetia          33.5  TYC 1725-00015-1   11.1         0.75 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Aug 31  03:06      54 Alexandra         22.1  TYC 6867-01445-1   11.1         0.86 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Sep 06  08:08      93 Minerva           15.7  TYC 1822-00535-1   10.0         3.16 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Sep 13  00:38      -1 Rhea (V)          58.3  HIP  74007          7.8         2.51 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Sep 15  13:01     261 Prymno             4.4  TYC 4674-00425-1    9.7         3.35 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Sep 18  06:40      82 Alkmene           23.5  HIP 99229           7.7         6.20 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Sep 24  12:50     407 Arachne           11.8  TYC 1202-01688-1   11.0         1.66 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 02  07:03     250 Bettina           10.1  TYC 0636-00647-1   11.5         1.09 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 04  12:43      81 Terpsichore       10.1  TYC 2410-01358-1   11.0         1.99 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 09  01:42      54 Alexandra          8.4  TYC 6308-00865-1    9.3         2.79 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 11  10:03     527 Euryanthe          4.6  TYC 1331-01593-1    9.4         6.10 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 12  09:14     449 Hamburga           3.2  TYC 1385-00552-1   10.6         3.45 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 12  12:24     598 Octavia           10.8  TYC 1299-00332-1   10.4         3.07 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 18  12:42     176 Iduna              5.8  TYC 4836-01924-1    9.5         4.03 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 21  04:21     225 Henrietta          9.9  TYC 0035-00981-1   11.3         1.91 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 24  06:30     346 Hermentaria        9.3  TYC 1358-01476-1   11.5         1.09 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 28  01:21     247 Eukrate            7.4  TYC 7464-00898-1   10.8         2.42 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Oct 30  00:16     259 Aletheia           5.1  TYC 6852-03917-1   11.1         2.42 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 08  22:31     636 Erika              6.1  TYC 1231-01670-1    8.8         4.32 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 13  12:09      85 Io                 6.1  TYC 4938-00817-1    9.8         3.93 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 16  02:44     230 Athamantis         3.5  TYC 5746-00664-1   10.8         1.59 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 16  10:38      25 Phocaea            5.8  TYC 0105-01050-1   11.0         1.29 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 20  07:03       3 Juno              27.2  HIP 43357           7.4         1.91 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 20  12:13     207 Hedda              9.7  TYC 1885-00864-1    9.5         3.93 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 21  06:32      66 Maja               8.7  TYC 1820-00185-1   11.4         1.03 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 24  07:18     596 Scheila            7.5  TYC 1274-00126-1   10.9         2.88 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Nov 29  06:05     144 Vibilia            9.5  TYC 5824-00028-1   10.3         1.74 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 04  05:15     393 Lampetia          10.2  TYC 0590-00008-1   11.2         1.74 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 04  06:37     714 Ulula              4.1  TYC 0725-02090-1    9.7         2.69 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 11  13:38     125 Liberatrix         4.0  TYC 1345-00277-1    9.1         4.32 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 13  11:22      35 Leukothea          8.9  TYC 2443-00047-1    9.3         3.93 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 17  05:41     101 Helena             4.8  TYC 2909-00422-1   10.8         1.51 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 24  09:08     408 Fama               3.3  HIP 37517           8.2         5.61 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements           
 2014 Dec 27  01:49     207 Hedda              6.1  TYC 1860-01110-1   10.9         2.16 Global GoogleMap GoogleEarth Path Sites Chart Stars Elements