Occultation Observing in 2026

Presenter(s): Stephen Kerr

Affiliation(s): Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance, Astronomical Association of Queensland, RASNZ, AAVSO, IMO

Session details: Sunday, 2026-04-05 06:30:00

Abstract

Occultation observing has been a staple of amateur astronomical citizen science since the 1970's. The last five to fifteen years has seen a rapid change in the techniques used by observers as new technologies put more capable equipment in observers' hands. Science objectives have also changed as planetary science has advanced through a range space craft missions rendering many of the previous amateur focus areas obsolete but opening up new fields of involvement. This talk will cover what has changed and where things may be headed.

Biography

Steve Kerr is a life long amateur astronomer based in Rockhampton, Queensland. He has always been fascinated by things that change and shift in the night sky and that has included occultations. Steve is presently the Director of the Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (formerly the RASNZ Occultation Section) coordinating and supporting occultation observing across Australian and New Zealand.