Grazing with Team Occultation – Summary 2010-2012
Presenter(s): Dave Gault
Affiliation(s): WSAAG, IOTA
Session details: Sunday, 2012-04-08 05:00:00, TBA
Abstract
Team Occultation (Sydney and Canberra chapter) continues the tradition of observing lunar graze occultations. Despite the advances of technology like data from the lunar Kaguya orbiter, the lunar graze, observed by a team determined astronomers is still a true test of Lunar Theory and stellar catalogues. This presentation summarises the grazes observed and suggests that a Brisbane chapter of Team Occultation would be a welcome addition and rival.
Biography
I became interested in Lunar and Minor Planet Occultations in about 1999 when I observed my first Lunar Occultation of Delta2 Tauri. I was so impressed with the drama of the event I wrote and submitted an article to Sky and Telescope. This was accepted and published in the January 2000 issue (Page 116). I have observed many lunar total occultations as well as 30 grazing lunar occultations. I have observed 43 positive minor planet occultations and have submitted the reports to the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA). I have also observed two stellar occultations by Pluto (2006 and 2008) that were observed from The Blue Mountains and the data used by Bruno Sicardy (Observatoire de Paris) to aid in his ongoing studies of Pluto’s atmospheric pressure and temperature. I am listed as co-author to 5 papers, the latest published by the Astronomical Journal.