info 44

(925) ALPHONSINA, a 57 km-large asteroid, occulted the bright star (Mv = 6.2) HIP 23799 = SAO 40029 on 2003 December, 22.

76 observers, from 9 countries have been involved. You will find, in the following table, the list of their abbreviations, in alphabetical order. 32 of them (in bold characters) recorded

an occultation and 44, not. Countries abbreviations (and number of observers) are : BE = Belgium (1), CH = Switzerland (1), CZ = Czech Republic (2), DE = Germany (41), ES = Spain (8),

Abbr.	Name	From®To	Abbr.	Name	From®To
AIB	Bernd ABSTEIN	DE	LZJ	Joan LOPEZ RODRIGEZ	ES
AKY	Martin ADAMOVSKY	CZ ® DE	MMM	Michael MOMMERT	DE
AME	Angel MASSALE	ES	MOE	Jorg MOELLMANN	DE
BAO	Stefano BASSO	IT	MSS	Stefan MESSER	DE
BDR	Eberhard BREDNER	DE	NDI	Norman DIEHL	DE
BER	Raoul BEHREND	CH	OGU	Otto GUTHIER	DE
BOL	Simone BOLZONI	IT	OKE	Oliver KLOES	DE
BRT	Oreste BERTOLI	IT	ONI	Otmar NICKEL	DE
BUL	Henk BULDER	NL	PAT	Javier PRAT	ES
BUM	Matthias BUSCH	DE	PSE	Peter SATTELBERGER	DE
BUS	Peter BUS	NL	RGE	Gilles REGHEERE	FR
CNS	Oscar CANALES MORENO	ES	RJO	Ricard JOSA	ES
DEF	Fabrice DELABROSSE	FR	RTT	Michal ROTTENBORN	CZ®DE
	with Sebastien LARRERE (LES)		RTU	Ulrich RIETH	DE
DMC	Christophe DEMEAUTIS	FR	RYJ	Jeremy ROYSTON	DE
	with Daniel MATTER (DMA)		RZI	Marco ROGOZIA	DE
DPY	Philippe DUPOUY	FR	SBH	Sabine BORSCH	DE
EGH	Andreas ENGELHARDT	DE	SCB	Carles SCHNABEL	ES
EHB	Hans EHRENBERG	DE	SED	Dietmar SELLNER	DE
EHR	Juan Carlos ECHANIZ HEIDER	DE	SHT	Alex SCHOLTEN	NL
ENK	Peter ENSKONATUS	DE	SMI	Michael SCHMIDT	DE
EWL	Dieter EWALD	DE	SPU	Klaus SPRUCK	DE
FAR	Otto FARAGO	DE	STJ	Jerome SERANT	FR
FST	Franz STARK	DE	SUM	Marc SERRAU	FR
GBL	Alfons GABEL	DE	SUS	Ruediger STRAUSS	DE
	with Alexander GABEL		THO	Bertrand THOORIS	BE
GKB	Bernd GAEHRKEN	DE	TSF	Torsten SCHAEFER	DE
GRM	Juan GRADOS MORENO	ES	WBW	Wojciech Broczkowski	PL
HDG	Henk De GROOT	NL	WFG	Friedrich W. GERBER	DE
HGV	Hans GOVAARTS	NL	WIT	Tomas WATTLINGER	DE
HHP	Paul HOMBACH	DE	WKL	Jan Marteen WINKEL	NL
HPT	Martina HAUPT	DE	WML	Artur WREMBEL	PL
	with Sven ANDERSSON (AND)		WSG	Wolfgang STRICKLING	DE
HUF	Friedhelm HUEBNER	DE	WUE	Nikolai WUENSCHE	DE
JKZ	Jaroslaw KUSTOSZ	PL	WWV	Vincent WISNIEWSKI	FR
KRR	Rainer KRESKEN	DE		with Laure ROSADA
KRT	Mike KRETLOW	DE	XFA	Lluis XIFRA	ES
LEI	Frank LEITER	DE	ZAW	Marek ZAWILSKI	PL

The predicted path ran over Russia, southern Estonia, Latvia, western Lituania, NW of Poland, central Germany and France, and Spain. Unfortunately, sky has been covered over the

centre of France and from place to place. The coverage of the event has been performed in a nearly optimal way in Poland, Germany and Spain. The following observers reported cloudy

Here are the negative observations, in alphabetical order of the observers abbreviations (previous page) :

AIB	21:47:54	22:00:00	B 50	VIS	E 08 15 42.3	N 49 55 29.5	185
BAO	21:48:30	21:54:30	M 114	VIS	E 09 24 28	N 45 41 49	276
BER	21:49:00	21:51:10	M 100	VIS	E 06 31 47	N 46 30 54	389
BOL	21:50:00	21:53:00	B 50	VIS	E 08 51 07	N 45 36 18	230
BRT	21:49:00	21:53:50	M 114	VIS	E 07 31 16	N 45 06 07	335
BUL	21:48:00	21:55:00	M 305	VIS	E 06 52 48.8	N 52 56 20.5	8
BUS	21:46:00	21:58:00	L 34	PHG	E 06 32 30.3	N 53 13 07.3	2

Accuracy of the scan 1 pixel = 1s. Some disturbances at 21:50:34 (2 px) & 21:51:20 (1 px) but more likely due to seeing

DMC	21:50:00	21:55:00	M 203	WEB	E 07 34 04.2	N 47 36 33.3	240
EGH	21:50:00	21:56:00	M 300	VIS	E 10 10 48	N 49 22 48	400
EHB	21:49:30	21:53:30	L 100	VIS	E 08 15 26.7	N 49 58 47.9	127
ESE	21:48:30	22:01:00	M 110	VIS	E 21 46 09	N 49 41 04	282
EWL	21:48:30	21:52:10	L 110	VIS	E 13 42 11.8	N 52 46 45.0	63
FAR	21:47:00	21:52:30	B 80	VIS	E 09 15 57.6	N 49 02 43.7	?
GBL	21:49:03	21:55:33	M 300	WEB	E 08 13 33.1	N 49 56 47.1	202
GRM	21:40:00	22:10:00	M 200	VIS	E 01 36 41.5	N 41 35 16.4	200
HDG	21:47:00	21:55:00	L 76	VIS	E 05 47 57.6	N 51 49 45.3	51
HGV	21:45:00	21:56:00	M 356	VIS	E 06 57 39.6	N 52 43 47.2	13
HHP	21:47:00	21:55:00	L 60	VIS	E 07 09 41	N 50 45 24	50
HUF	21:48:00	21:57:00	L 114	VIS	E 08 07 59	N 50 01 54	110
KRT	21:48:00	21:55:00	M 300	VIS	E 08 15 45.5	N 50 04 52.4	202
LEI	21:48:00	21:55:00	M 114	VIS	E 08 30 04	N 50 32 52.2	150
MMM	21:49:00	21:56:00	B 63	VIS	E 08 32 03	N 49 23 53	103
MOE	21:48:00	21:53:00	M 200	VIS	E 14 14 40.6	N 53 01 43.8	10
MSS	21 :45 :00	21:55:00	B 63	VIS	E 08 21 50.4	N 50 08 17.4	256
NDI	21 :45 :00	22:05:00	M 280	VIS	E 08 33 51	N 50 08 46	136
OKE, MSS	21:40:45	22:00:00	M 254	VID	E 08 21 50.4	N 50 08 17.4	256
ONI	21:48:01	21:54:01	M 250	VID	E 08 14 56	N 49 55 05	208
PSE	21:45:00	22:00:00	B 50	VIS	E 08 12 57	N 49 56 36	170
RGE	21:42:00	21:56:00	B 80	VIS	E 01 45 05	N 48 49 15	102
RTU	21:48:00	21:55:00	L 80	VIS	E 08 13 30	N 49 56 42	205
RYJ	21:48:00	21:52:00	M 152	VIS	E 08 29 57	N 50 07 00	130
SBH	21:47:00	21:56:00	M 250	VIS	E 07 32 26.5	N 50 08 51	417
SED	21:49:00	21:53:00	L 125	VID	E 08 22 58.6	N 49 55 57.4	91
SHT	21:46:00	21:55:00	M 200	VIS	E 06 03 23.1	N 52 06 50.4	17
SMI	21:48:00	21:55:00	M 200	WEB	E 08 18 08.7	N 50 00 47.5	92

At 21:51:46 or 21:50:46 star darkened from 6 to 8-9 mag for 0.3s with color changes from white to orange.

STJ	21:45:00	21:54:00	M 150	VIS	E 03 10 18	N 47 55 17	200
THO	21:43:33	22:07:15	M 115	VIS	E 03 07 40	N 50 47 30	34
WFG	21:50:06	21:55:24	M 203	VIS	E 08 15 45	N 49 53 59	141
WKL	21:46:00	21:56:00	M 200	VIS	E 06 15 41	N 51 54 16	20
WSG	21:47:43	21:57:40	M 100	VID	E 08 57 08.3	N 50 17 11.2	150
WSG			B 77	VIS	E 08 57 08.3	N 50 17 11.2	150
WUE	21:50:05	21:53:40	M 150	VIS	E 13 39 54.5	N 52 45 38.7	68

The relevant data for the 30 positive observations are given here after, in decreasing longitude order (toward West, following the motion of the asteroid shadow).

ZAW	M 200	VID	E 16 39 32.5	N 53 55 44.0	160	21:50:17.0 ±0.1s	21:50:22.5 ±0.1 s	5.5	R+
Duration ± 0.05s. D in 2 frames, R in 3 frames (25 fr/s)
WBW	M 200	VIS	E 16 39 32.5	N 53 55 44.0	160	21:50:16.5	21:50:22.0	5.5	R+
VIS from screen of the VID obs.
WML	M 150	VID	E 16 32 19.3	N 53 58 41.1	150	21:50:17.3 ±0.1s	21:50:22.1 ±0.1s	4.8	R+
Duration ± 0.05s. D in 2 frames, R in 4 frames (25 fr/s)
JKZ	L 30	VIS	E 16 32 19.3	N 53 58 41.1	150	21:50:18.1	21:50:22.9	4.8	R+
ENK	L 75	VID	E 13 43 04	N 52 25 42	38	21:50:35.42 ±0.04 s	21:50:41.00 ±0.04 s	5.58	R+
HPT, AND	M 200	VID	E 13 39 48.3	N 52 24 40.2	40	21:50:35.68 ±0.04 s	21:50:41.28 ±0.04 s	5.60	R+
Potsdam datum.
RZI	B 50	VIS	E 13 35 39.0	N 52 41 31.9	69	21:50:38.0 ±0.7s	21:50:38.5 ±0.7 s	0.5	R
WIT	L 105	WEB	E 13 02 00	N 52 23 56	37	21:50:39.8 ±0.2 s 21:50:41.6 ±0.2 s	21:50:40.6 ±0.2 s 21:50:42.8 ±0.2 s	0.8 1.2	PH
First event is a 3 mag dip in brightness with no plateau. Second event is a real occultation with 0.4s D & 0.4s R.
AKY	L 100	VIS	E 11 16 05	N 51 03 26	?	21:50:53.5 ±0.1 s	21:50:56.95 ±0.1 s	3.45	R
RTT	L 100	VIS	E 11 14 40	N 51 04 23	197	21:50:52.9 ±0.1 s	21:50:57.3 ±0.1 s	4.4	R
EHR	B 50	VIS	E 10 19 25	N 50 58 29	217	21:50:57.3 21:50:59.4	21:50:58.5 21:51:00.25	1.20 0.85	R
First event : from 21:50:57.6 to 58.5 : fast faint flashing with irregular brightness (mag 7 to 8.5?).
GKB	L 18	VID	E 09 28 35.3	N 50 27 54.0	419	21:51:02.24	21:51:06.64	4.40	R
Duration ± 0.2s. Event seen with B50 : 4s estimated duration.
BDR	M 150	VID	E 09 22 51.6	N 50 28 22.4	474	21:51:06.16	21:51:06.64	0.48	R+
FST	B 50	VIS	E 08 59 37.5	N 50 13 50.6	150	21:51:08.15 ±0.1 s	21:51:10.4 ±0.1 s	2.25	R
Short flash at 21:51:09.8 ±0.1 s
BUM	M 305	VIS	E 08 39 10.7	N 49 38 52.5	256	21:51:10.06	21:51:15.11	5.05	NTP
KRR	M 140	VIS	E 08 38 43.9	N 49 49 05.3	148	21:51:08.75	21:51:14.3	5.55	R
OGU	L 102	VIS	E 08 37 40	N 49 39 00	99
Only estimated duration of 2-2.5s.
TSF	M 1240	WEB	E 08 24 41.1	N 49 55 31.6	103	21:51:12.87	21:51:13.23	0.36	R+
SUS	B 50	VIS	E 08 12 37	N 49 46 03	187	21:50:09	21:50:13	2 + 1	R
One second flash from 21:50:11 to 12; Timing results incompatible with other observations.
SUM	B 40	VIS	E 07 03 16	N 48 57 00.5	280	21:51:19.7 ±0.1 s	21:51:25.15 ±0.1 s	5.45	R
Uncomfortable observation due to high altitude of the star.
DEF	M 346	VIS	W 00 40 28	N 43 33 22	90	21:52:21.1 ±0.1 s	21:52:26.4 ±0.1 s	5.3	R
WWV	L 70	VIS	W 00 44 50	N 43 35 29	44			About 3	R
No absolute timing due to technical failure. 3.0s estimated duration
SCB	M 210	VIS	W 01 36 11.9	N 42 36 10.2	575	21:52:30.1 ±0.2 s	21:52:35.3 ±0.2 s	5.2	R
Gradual D & R; ED1950.
CNS	M 200	VIS	W 01 42 34.8	N 42 33 28.2	504	21:52:30.7 ±0.4 s	21:52:35.8 ±0.2 s	5.1	R
Gradual R; ED1950.

LZJ	M 200	VIS	W 01 42 34.8	N 42 33 28.2	504	21:52:31.4 ±0.2 s	21:52:36.6 ±0.2 s	5.2	R R
Gradual D & R. ED1950.
AME	M 200	VIS	W 01 44 47.1	N 42 35 10.2	430	21:52:29.17 ± ?	21:52:33.22 ± ?	4.05	R
ED1950.
RJO	M 70	VIS	W 01 44 47.1	N 42 35 10.2	430	21:52:29.3 ±0.1 s	21:52:33.5 ±0.1 s	4.2	R
ED1950.
XFA	M 200	VIS	W 01 48 41.8	N 42 36 09.3	370	21:52:32.1			R
No reaction time applied; Possible blink at 21:52:28.0. Event not defined at 21:52:37.1. ED1950.
PAT	M 310	VID	W 01 51 54	N 42 42 42	595	21:52:29.94	21:52:35.31	5.37	R
Instantaneous D & R.

The density of observing stations was very high all along the path in Germany. “Shepherd” observer (who missed the path by the shortest distance) on the northern border is MOE, and

the first chords have been obtained by TSF, RZI and BDR. On the southern side, the first chord has been obtained by AKY, and the “shepherd” observer is MMM.

The path position can so be fixed laterally with a precision better than 2 km, revealing a slight shift (0.3 path width) toward south relative to the last predictions. Great dispersion in the

Despite the scattering, chords can be fitted with a rather elongated, 79 X 47 km ellipsoidal profile, with the long axis approximately parallel to the asteroid motion. These dimensions are

(925) Alphonsina has been involved in 4 events during the period 2003, November to December.

On the 2003.11.22, occultation of GSC 3360-01079 was predicted to occur over western Europe. Due to bad weather, only two negative observations have been performed from

Bavarian Public Observatory (Muenchen), by Claus-Peter HEIDMANN (HCP) and Michael PARL (PAR), so no more indication can be obtained.

On the 2003.11.29, another occultation was predicted over western Europe . Bad weather prevented any observation.

On the 2003.12.15, an occultation of 10.8-mag. TYC 2908-00997-1 was predicted over Japan. We received ten reports from the Japanese Occultation Information Network (JOIN), five of

All positions are given according to JGD2000=WGS84. (Courtesy of Tsutomu HAYAMIZU)

S. PRESTON prediction for this event was quite accurate. Reduction shows that approximate profile is an ellipse : (77.8±0.5 x 64±6) km with again its long axis running almost parallel to

All reports from this INFO44 have already been diffused on Internet by “PLANOCCULT”. To subscribe to this free service, send an E-Mail to listserv@Aula.com with the following

text : subscribe planoccult Your Name, Your Country; and to unsubscribe, send an E-Mail to listserv@Aula.com, with text : unsubscribe planoccult.

Reports and results are summarized on www.euraster.net, a web page maintained by E. FRAPPA from Saint-Etienne Observatory.

Please send the reports quickly, about positive as well as negative observations ! Negative reports can be decisive to determine the shape or refine the orbit of the asteroid, as has

AZO	Tibor ASZTALOS	HU	JNK	Tomas JANIK	CZ
CQU	Jean CAQUEL	FR	JVA	Jean VILAR	FR
DVH	Philippe DEVERCHERE	FR	MGX	Jacky MAINGUEUX	FR
ESE	Emilian SKRZYNECKI	PL	MNK	Jan MANEK	CZ
FRP	Eric FRAPPA	FR	OTA	Otta SANDOR	CZ
GHD	Siegfried GEBHARD	DE	PRB	Vaclav PRIBAN	CZ
JDJ	Jaromir JINDRA	CZ	WGI	Artur WARGIN	PL
JHP	Jon HARPER	UK

Observer	Longitude (E)	Latitude (N)	Height (m)	Disappearance (UT)	Reappearance (UT)	Dur. (s)	Comments
Hideto Fukui	135 48 56	34 57 42	35	15:59:13.75 ±0.03s	15:59:19.16 ±0.03s	5.4	VID, 20cm F4 Reflector
Hideo Takashima	139 57 10.9	35 50 48.3	39	15:58:46.09 ±0.03s	15:58:51.53 ±0.03s	5.45	VID, 20cm F2 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope.
Hideki Yoshiwara	133 38 34.5	34 39 46.6	55	15:59:28.02 ±0.03s	15:59:33.53 ±0.03s	5.5	VID, 20cm F8 Reflector
Katsuhiko Kitazaki	139 33 41.2	35 42 36.9	66	15:58:48.70 ±0.01s	15:58:54.39 ±0.01s	5.71	VID, 40cm F10.1 Cass.
Shigeo Uchiyama	139 59 27.0	35 54 25.2	7	15:58:45.72 ±0.03s	15:58:51.03 +0.23, -0.03s	5.3	VID, 16cm F3.3 Newtonian
Yasukazu Ikari	135 59 24.2	35 02 58.6	101	15:59:11.66 ± ?	15:59:17.28 ± ?	5.62	Measured by J. Broughton Cooled CCD, 25cm SCT
Akira Yaeza	140 36 11	36 31 30	220				VIS, 20cm SCT
Koji Maeda	131 25 25	31 49 37	?				VID, 400mm Camera lens
Akie Hashimoto	139 01 59.6	35 58 04.5	355				VIS, 18cm Newtonian
Mamoru Urabe	140 06 04.3	35 06 35.0	8				VID, 21cm Newtonian

EAON - INFO N° 44

THE “ALPHONSINA EVENT”