119 reports (10 positive) about 37 events (7+?) were sent by 57 observers, from 14 countries during 2002, January and February. You will find in the following table the list of their abbreviations, in alphabetical order, with the number of reports made by each of them.

Those countries (and numbers of observers) are :

B = Belgium (2), CH = Switzerland (3), CZ = Czech Republic (8), D = Germany (1), E = Spain (9), F = France (9),
I = Italy (6), N = Norway (1), NL = Nederland (2), P = Portugal (1), PL = Poland (5), SU = Finland (1),
UK = United Kingdom (8), YU = Yugoslavia (1).

2002 (January to February) Observations

Usually negative, excepted when otherwise specified. ‘mp’ stands for the minor planet, ‘*’ for the star. All times are in UTC.

2002.01.12 : 680 Genoveva / TYC 2934 01553 1                   BOL       CAS       HMG

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 03 E 02 05 28.5 +231m

            [mp 0".40 ± 0".03 N of * at 02:58:27 ± 4 s., from 37 CCD images]

2002.01.14 : 516 Amherstia / HIP 36335                 BUL       HGV      MLS       SPL

and 2 positive :

The two observers noticed that the star disappeared and reappeared somewhat gradually (within 0.5 sec for amg)

2002.01.14 : 81 Terpsichore / TYC 6156 00764 1                  BTG    CNS

CNS reported a possible blink at 06 19 27 ± 1 s.

2002.01.14 : 2868 Upupa / HIP 42950                     BER  (with Paul Bartholdi)       BOL    COL    CRM   FGL    JLX                                                 SPS

JLX at Pic du Midi Obs. (pdm) : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 0".457 ± 0".020 (2 sd) N of * at 22:29:38 ± 3 s., from 107 CCD images]

This occultation was first predicted by J.Berthier at IMCCE (Paris), and was first published in the "Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes, Ephemerides Astronomiques 2002", p.292-293 and p.304.

2002.01.15 : 4821 Bianucci / HIP 23589                  DGE       ESE        HMG      HSC    JLX

This occultation was first predicted by J.Berthier at IMCCE (Paris), and was first published in the "Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes, Ephemerides Astronomiques 2002", p.292-293 and p.304.

2002.01.17 : 21 Lutetia / TYC 1407 00130 1                          CAS       GCV   JLX

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 04 E 02 05 29 +224m

            [mp 0".41 ± 0".04 S of * at 03:33:33 ± 2 s., from 40 CCD images]

GCV at Linhaceira N 39 31 22.6 W 08 23 01.5 +90m

            [mp 0".04 ± 0".035 S of * at 03 33 54 ± 8 s. from 30 CCD images]

JLX at pdm : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 0".495 ± 0".005 (2 sd) S of * at 03:33:39.5 ± 1.0 s., from 211 CCD frames]

2002.01.17 : 1031 Arctica / TYC 0131 00050 1                      BOL    CAS       ELL        JLX

and 1 positive :

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 04 E 02 05 29 +224m

            [mp 0".56 ± 0".05 S of * at 19:56:17 ± 1 s., from 20 CCD images]

JLX at pdm : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 0".403 ± 0".005 (2 sd) S of * at 19:57:29.3 ± 1.0 s., from 95 CCD frames]

Differential astrometry of mp and * from Sabadell and pdm yields conflicting results.

Anyway, PSY is well away the shadow path deduced from the two sets of astrometric measurements (resp. 692 or 1036 km, i.e. 9 to 13 times the diameter of Arctica). Photometric analysis of the original CCD file of PSY gives only 0.4 magnitude for the event depth. Any real occultation should have an amplitude of 3.2 magnitudes. Thus if this brief occultation was a real one, it was only very partial or by a secondary body very much brighter than the main one. In the two cases, such a distant satellite would have been detected visually for a long time. Not easy to explain, this event had chances to be spurious : the tiny break in the trail could sum up just to a fortuitous succession of 6 low counts in consecutive pixels, a wrong consequence of the weak star/sky ratio (about 0.07) in the frame.

2002.01.17 : 93 Minerva / TYC 2457 02281 1                  CAS       ELL        JLX

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 04 E 02 05 29 +225m

            [mp 1".20 ± 0".05 N of * at 20:19:19 ± 5 s., from 20 CCD images]

JLX at pdm : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 1".44 ± 0".02 (2 sd) N of * at 20:20:12.6 ± 2.2 s., from 39 CCD frames]

2002.01.18 : 242 Kriemhild / TYC 0182 00175 1             CAS       ELL        GCV      JLX     TVH

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 04 E 02 05 29 +224m

            [mp 0".41 ± 0".03 S of * at 00:17:50 ± 4 s., from 18 CCD images]

GCV at Linhaceira N 39 31 22.6 W 08 23 01.5 +90m

            [mp 0".04 ±0".07 N of * at 00 19 02 ± 8 s. from 8 CCD images]

JLX at pdm : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 0".480 ± 0".003 (2 sd) S of * at 00:17:51.6 ± 0.5 s., from 55 CCD images]

Astrometric data closely confirm the last update by S.Preston. TVH observation has been interrupted at closest approach by thin clouds.

2002.01.20 : 4523 Mit / HIP 15077                                    CAS          JLX        STP

This occultation was first predicted by J.Berthier at IMCCE (Paris), and was first published in the "Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes, Ephemerides Astronomiques 2002", p.292-293 and p.305.

2002.01.21 :1794 Finsen / TYC 0154 02070 1                                    BOL    JLX

Reduction of astrometric measurements performed by JLX at pdm stands to be done.

2002.01.21 : 8821 1990 XB / HIP 38148                                             JLX

Reduction of astrometric measurements performed at pdm stands to be done.

2002.01.22 : 912 Maritima / TYC 5573 00706 1                                MTN

2002.01.26 : 1735 Ita / TAC 03 09790                                                DZR

2002.01.27 : 546 Herodias / TYC 3380 01162 1                                 KIN

2002.01.27: 366 Vincentina / HIP 3712                                              KIN

2002.01.31 : 361 Bononia / TYC 2495 00265 1                                  CNS       ELL        GCV

GCV transmitted that Roger Venable (RVB) realized a strange positive observation from Elberton (Georgia, USA) :

(by courtesy of RVB)

Due to its duration (9.5 sec, that is, a near-central occultation) it can be deduced that the event involved a double asteroid (two identical bodies nearly in contact) and a double star.

GCV result [mp 0".36 ±0".14 S of * at 01 36 14 ± 22 s. from 38 CCD images at Linhaceira N 39 31 22.6 W 08 23 01.5 +90m] doesn’t fit S. Preston and J. Manek updates by 2 times their given uncertainty, neither RVB observation. This discrepancy is probably due to the fact that measurements have been performed only before and far (more than two hours) from the appulse.

2002.02.01 : 680 Genoveva / TYC 2920 00901 1                               DZR       ELL

2002.02.02 : 1051 Merope / TYC 4742 00609 1               BDW            BOL          BUL         CJV        CRM  (multiple station with Paolo Pizzetti and Wladimiro Marinello)

                                                      DGE             DZR          GCV            HAL          JLX          JNK        MKM  MNK                                                      SMD            SPL           SPS                THO

and 2 positive :

UBJ : Disappearance has been instantaneous. Reappearance appeared to be gradual and lasted maybe up to 0.5 second. Reported R time refers to instant of full brightness of star.

Since MNK, CJV (both in double station), and SPL did not observed any occultation, the mp diameter is less than 67 km as previously supposed.

2002.02.02 : 127 Johanna / TYC 1965 00646 1   BUL       DGE       THO

2002.02.10 : 712 Boliviana / HIP 26555                GCV

GCV at Linhaceira N 39 31 22.6 W 08 23 01.5 +90m

            [mp 2".4 ±0".1 S of * at 22 13 20 ± 30 sec. from 52 CCD images]

2002.02.12 : 1113 Katja / TYC 1400 00518 1             BER  (with Paul Bartholdi)                BOL

                                                                  CAS      (with  Ricard Josa,  Joan Lopez  and  Marti Pinto)

                                                                                        CNS             DPY          DZR             GCV      GJJ

                                                                  JLX (with  Frederic  Deladerriere)                   MEZ       MTN

                                                                  NEL             PSY           SCB                  SPS

and 2 positive :

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 04 E 02 05 29 +225m

            [mp 0".07 ± 0".03 S of * at 21:52:28 ± 2 s. from 65 CCD images]

GCV at Linhaceira N 39 31 22.6 W 08 23 01.5  +90m

            [mp 0".082 ±0".044 S of * at 21 53 41 ± 6 s. from 45 CCD images]

JLX at pdm :N 42 56 10.8, E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 0".0595 ± 0".0035 (2 sd) S of * at 21:52:32.9 ± 0.4 s. from 228 CCD images]

            [mp 0".0618 ± 0".0023 (2 sd) S of * at 21:52:32.9 ± 0.2 s. (Independent reduction by BER (Geneva Observatory)]

E. Goffin gave correct path, but its time was 1.5 mn late. Relative to J. Manek's update the true path arose ~2 diameters south, but the predicted time was perfect.

BNO and RCA timings lead to a mp diameter (if circular) of 41.9 km (E. Goffin and J. Manek used 45 km and Astorb database value is 38 km) and show that pdm astrometry was correct within 0".0017 or 2.2 km.

2002.02.15 : 36 Atalante / TYC 2847 00852                     DZR       JNK     KJL        MKM     MRX

2002.02.20 : 838 Seraphina / TYC 0206 01072 1             BOL       MDT

2002.02.24 : 56 Melete / TYC 0797 00215 1         CAS    CRM      HMG   HSC       HTR       PSY

and 1 positive :

CAS at Sabadell Obs. : N 41 33 04 E 02 05 29 +225m

            [mp 0".14 ± 0".03 of * at 01:47:39 ± 8 s. from 87 CCD images]

BNO was at 28 (±5) km from the centerline. Astrometry by Sabadell Observatory shows that probably his location was on northeast side, while PSY, located at southwest, experienced a near miss. Jan Manek's predicted path was almost perfect; his time was 0.1 mn late. This was for BNO the second consecutive positive observation in less than one month (with 1113 KATJA).

Other observations  (not in E.A.O.N. program) :

2002.01.03 : 787 Moskva / TYC 4846 00969                                      HGV

2002.01.10 : 176 Iduna / TYC 0511 0679                                           MDT

2002.01.17 : 1040 Klumpkea / TYC 1349 1498                                 JLX

JLX at pdm : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

            [mp 0".78 ± 0".03 (2 sd) SSW of * at 05:38:47 ± 3 s., from 17 exposures] - result in very close agreement with last update by S.Preston.

2002.01.18 : 2152 Hannibal / TYC 763 03144                                   JLX

Reduction of astrometric measurements performed at pdm stands to be done.

2002.01.27 : 8433 Brachyrhynchus / TYC 2898 02776                     SPS

2002.02.02 : 4832 Palinurus / TYC 0064 0798 1                                PAH

2002.02.04 : 15760 1999 QB1 / TYC 0018 443                                  MDT

2002.02.15 : 795 Fini / TYC 1201 00737              1 positive :

2002.02.17 : 16651 1993 TS11 / TAC 08 06020                                 DGE

2002.02.19 : 19725 1999 WT4 / TYC 1426 44                                   MDT

2002.02.20 : 1372 Haremari / TYC 6102 1296                                   MDT

2002.02.24 : 364 Isara / TYC 1417 00203            1 positive (short blink):

We learned on 2002.10.24 that Ørnulf Midtskogen observed the 2001.10.08 Irmgard occultation from Spain. Thus the number of observers from Spain reported in INFO #35 should be 5 instead of 4.

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G. REGHEERE gillesregheere@voila.fr

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