Comments on: Florida, Georgia to see star blocked by asteroid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:05:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Matthew http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34688 Matthew Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:25:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34688 If anyone has location of stars over florida e-mail me at the above address please........ Thanks If anyone has location of stars over florida e-mail me at the above address please…….. Thanks

]]> By: Escuerdo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34687 Escuerdo Sat, 21 Apr 2007 02:05:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34687 Wouldn't "Florida, Georgia to see asteroid block star" have been a less grammatically ambiguous headline? Wouldn’t “Florida, Georgia to see asteroid block star” have been a less grammatically ambiguous headline?

]]> By: Howard L Cohen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34686 Howard L Cohen Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:29:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34686 Tuesday night, 2007 April 17 (EDT), Iota Cancri A dimmed out as expected when asteroid 411 Xanthe passed over this fourth magnitude, colorful double star. Despite potential clouds and haze that would have ruined seeing this exciting event, most people who tried to time the occultation had remarkable success. This event was even more dramatic since this yellowish star winked out but left its fainter bluish companion behind! Preliminary results suggest the actual path may have been about 20 km farther north than expected. For example, observers in Valdosta, GA were not expected to see the event but saw an approximate 6 sec duration. And, an AAC observer in Gainesville, FL who should have seen the occultation, did not. Observers near the center line path close to Live Oak, FL saw an approximate 8 sec duration, as was expected. The occultation also occurred earlier than predicted. (My own observations had the occultation about 15 seconds early.) Data provided by the many observers including members of the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. (AAC), Universities of Florida and Valdosta, and many others, should ultimately allow one to determine the shape of this main belt asteroid, its diameter, and the star's angular diameter. More info about this occultation and preliminary results are on an AAC Web page: http://www.floridastars.org/occult.iotacan.2007-04.html Tuesday night, 2007 April 17 (EDT), Iota Cancri A dimmed out as expected when asteroid 411 Xanthe passed over this fourth magnitude, colorful double star.

Despite potential clouds and haze that would have ruined seeing this exciting event, most people who tried to time the occultation had remarkable success.

This event was even more dramatic since this yellowish star winked out but left its fainter bluish companion behind!

Preliminary results suggest the actual path may have been about 20 km farther north than expected. For example, observers in Valdosta, GA were not expected to see the event but saw an approximate 6 sec duration. And, an AAC observer in Gainesville, FL who should have seen the occultation, did not. Observers near the center line path close to Live Oak, FL saw an approximate 8 sec duration, as was expected.

The occultation also occurred earlier than predicted. (My own observations had the occultation about 15 seconds early.)

Data provided by the many observers including members of the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. (AAC), Universities of Florida and Valdosta, and many others, should ultimately allow one to determine the shape of this main belt asteroid, its diameter, and the star’s angular diameter.

More info about this occultation and preliminary results are on an AAC Web page:

http://www.floridastars.org/occult.iotacan.2007-04.html

]]> By: John Oliver http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34685 John Oliver Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:04:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34685 whoops ... video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiC28i3v44U whoops … video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiC28i3v44U

]]> By: John Oliver http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34684 John Oliver Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:02:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34684 At least some of the UF astronomers and Alachua Astronomy Club observers were sucessful and I know of at least one video sucess. I will try to post a link when it becomes available. At least some of the UF astronomers and Alachua Astronomy Club observers were sucessful and I know of at least one video sucess. I will try to post a link when it becomes available.

]]> By: PsyberDave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34683 PsyberDave Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:33:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34683 Those at the University of Florida and Florida state should be able to get the best view with a short drive. I'm too far away in South Florida. I think it would be interesting to see a video of the occultation, if someone could capture that. Those at the University of Florida and Florida state should be able to get the best view with a short drive. I’m too far away in South Florida.

I think it would be interesting to see a video of the occultation, if someone could capture that.

]]> By: Mike http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34682 Mike Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:27:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/16/florida-georgia-to-see-star-blocked-by-asteroid/#comment-34682 Since I didn't see it mentioned above: As an added bonus, Iota Cancri also happens to be a really beautiful double star, with a very marked color difference between the widely separated components. We always show it to our undergrads at campus observatory (when Albireo isn't up) to demonstrate stellar colors and their correspondence to temperature. Since I didn’t see it mentioned above: As an added bonus, Iota Cancri also happens to be a really beautiful double star, with a very marked color difference between the widely separated components.

We always show it to our undergrads at campus observatory (when Albireo isn’t up) to demonstrate stellar colors and their correspondence to temperature.

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