Comet 29P occultation success from GB

[Tim Haymes]

Malcolm Jennings (South London) obtained a short occultation of 0.38s on May 7th 22:43:20 UT.

This is the *first* occasion a comet nucleus has been observed to occult a star from GB. He recorded the v 11.7 star with an 8″ Newtonian and WAT-910HX video camera set at 2 x frame integration (0.08s).

Congratulations Malcolm.

Mike Kretlow has included these preliminary observations in his CORA database here:
https://astro.kretlow.de/cora/events/cora/2023-05-07/GDR3%203385650048592524160/(29P)%20Schwassmann-Wachmann%201/

The observation will help constrain the orbit of 29P in preparation for the upcoming occultation of a 10.5 mag star, shadow across Spain on May 21, 2023.
https://cloud.occultwatcher.net/event/870-SchwassmannWachmann-97061-649662-T01022-1/966654

Thanks to all observers who were thwarted by weather and horizon obstructions.

Tim

[Richard Miles]

Thanks Tim.

I have updated our MISSION 29P News page to illustrate what was found. See:
https://britastro.org/section_information_/comet-section-overview/mission-29p-2/mission-29p-centaur-comet-observing-campaign

Richard

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