TABLE OF PERSONALLY OBSERVED ASTEROID AND SOLAR SYSTEM BODY OCCULTATIONS

I have successfully observed and timed the following asteroid/planetary satellite occultations. However, you may ask why there is such a paucity of successes. Accurate ground track forecasting prior to 2001 was really poor, making successful observations problematic at best. You had to be really lucky in order to see an occultation. Beginning in 2001 many more events were being forecasted with improved accuracy, and astrometry (the science of astronomical position measurement) sources and reduction techniques experienced a major advancement. C8=Celestron 8-inch Schmidt Cass telescope in the table below. The M4 is the Meade 2045D telecope.

For each success listed in the table, there were at least 7 to 10 failures that are not listed in the years prior to 2001. Following that the failure rate decreased to 1 in 2. The encouraging thought here is that if you make an attempt and do not succeed the first time, continue to observe future events. You will increase your proficiency in recognizing the problems associated with finding the target star, tracking, observing for a continuous period of time, battling weather elements, battery failures and more. Paying close attention to the predictions will let you become familiar with the error margins and will also lead to more successes. This is a fun and fantastic experience.