Occultation Observing 101, 2024 style

Presenter(s): Many

Affiliation(s): NACAA, CWAS, TTOA, ASNSW

Session details: Saturday, 2024-03-30 02:30:00, SUN

Abstract

Observing occultations provides insights into the size and composition of asteroids and minor planets, the structure of planetary rings, the orbital dynamics of planetary systems, and the atmospheres of comets, planets, and their satellites. The techniques and technology for observing occultations have changed enormously in the last twenty years. The old days of lunar grazes and audio recordings of VNG or WWV are long gone. New cameras, new software, new timing sources, new recording devices, new data sources for predictions, etc., have changed how you select, plan, record, analyse, and report occultation events. That’s a lot of choices to make when picking the “best” approach for you. This panel session will present an up-to-date explanation on why to get started in occultation observing, and how to use the choices available today. Click here to download a recording of the presentation.

Biography

Stephen has been interested in occultations since observing a lunar graze next to a graveyard in Goulburn in the 1970s. After that, he observed and recorded many lunar and asteroidal occultations. Alas, life has intervened more and more over the years, and his observing has dwindled. These days he’s designing the observatory for his house in Orange — which he moved into eight years ago — and hopes to get back to observing more than just solar eclipses sometime in his lifetime. Stephen has also had a long association with NACAA, attending his first event in 1970 while still in nappies. He became the second NACAA Secretariat in 1975 because someone else died, a position that lasted for a few months. Years later, he worked with other NACAA veterans to create NACAA INC, and has served in various roles since then.