Occultation event with (1404) Ajax, event index number 3827
Regions able to see the event: NZ
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/07/02 06:59:35 UTC
J2000 position of star is 10:51:40.0 +00:41:27
Equinox of date position of star is 10:53:01.6 +00:32:59
Star is 141 degrees from the moon. Moon is 95% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=14.9, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=15.4
Use an exposure time of 0.80 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 9.9 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 63% with SNR of 6.2 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 24.2 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 19.8 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 114.6 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 19.4 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 1.3 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 14.6 km.
The sky-plane scale is 4406.2 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
83.2 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 3.4 sec for a central chord
34.0 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.4 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 84.0 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 1404_Ajax, (2026/07/02 07:00UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Regulus 10:09:46.8 +11:50:12 1.3 15.57 156 55 Leo 10:57:04.2 +00:35:42 6.2 1.01 140 PPM 157264 10:52:30.9 +00:38:42 8.2 0.16 141 PPM 157266 10:52:33.4 +00:32:03 9.8 0.12 141 1404_Ajax 10:53:01.6 +00:32:59 15.4 141 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 1404_Ajax, (2026/07/02 07:00UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Regulus 10:08:21.9 +11:58:02 1.3 15.57 156 55 Leo 10:55:42.5 +00:44:13 6.2 1.01 140 PPM 157264 10:51:09.2 +00:47:10 8.2 0.16 141 PPM 157266 10:51:11.8 +00:40:31 9.8 0.12 141 1404_Ajax 10:51:40.0 +00:41:27 15.4 141 Positions are for J2000