Observation by Alex Pratt: Triton occults 4UC 410-143659

Uploaded by

Alex Pratt

Observer

Alex Pratt

Observed

2017 Oct 05 - 22:48

Uploaded

2017 Oct 06 - 21:54

Objects

Conjunction

Constellation

Grus

Equipment

C8 f/10
Losmandy GM-8 mount
Watec 910 camera
OccuRec recorder
Tangra analysis

Exposure

1.28s integrations

Location

Z92

Target name

Triton occults 4UC 410-143659

Title

Triton occults 4UC 410-143659

About this image

This was a difficult occultation, with poor seeing, an almost Full Moon, its close proximity to Neptune, a faint mag 12.7 target star, an unfavourable altitude, an occasional breeze earlier in the night, etc.

I couldn't use my C11 in my observatory (Neptune was obstructed by local trees) so I had to use my venerable 37-year old C8 on a portable mount. I tried 0.64s integrations but the S/N was poor.

The occultation duration from my location (at 50% flux) was ~2m 10s, with a total duration of ~2m 20s. The D and R phases look to be long-duration events. Perhaps this is expected from my location relative to the shadow path, because my occultation chord was nearer to Triton's north pole than its equator. We're seeing some interesting asymmetry in the light curves obtained from different locations across the UK, mainland Europe and the USA. So far 9 successful UK reports have been received by Tim Haymes and myself.

Worldwide data will be collated by Bruno Sicardy's Lucky Star team who will analyse it to assess the temperature and density of Triton's atmosphere.

Files associated with this observation

Triton occultation Z92 ARP.png (17.6 kB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, David Swan, James Screech, Graham Winstanley, Peter Mulligan, Dawson, Mike Olason, Martin Lewis, Thomas Killestein, David Basey, Ray Emery, Peter Carson

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