Occultation event with (16974) Iphthime, event index number 3254
Regions able to see the event: SAfrica
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/02/16 21:28:49 UTC
J2000 position of star is 10:50:47.4 -11:44:44
Equinox of date position of star is 10:52:05.6 -11:53:04
Star is 146 degrees from the moon. Moon is 0% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=14.9, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=15.1
Use an exposure time of 0.85 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 9.6 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 55% with SNR of 5.3 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 15.9 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 17.3 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 105.1 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 13.6 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 2.2 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 50.5 km.
The sky-plane scale is 3311.5 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
62.2 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 3.9 sec for a central chord
25.4 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.6 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 57.3 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 16974_Iphthime, (2026/02/16 21:29UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Regulus 10:09:45.7 +11:50:19 1.3 25.95 171 Alphard 09:28:52.3 -08:46:23 2.0 20.70 155 PPM 193828 10:51:02.0 -09:59:30 5.5 1.91 148 PPM 223510 10:50:50.9 -12:06:00 8.2 0.37 146 PPM 223527 10:51:30.2 -11:49:32 9.2 0.16 147 16974_Iphthime 10:52:05.6 -11:53:04 15.1 146 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 16974_Iphthime, (2026/02/16 21:29UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Regulus 10:08:21.9 +11:58:02 1.3 25.95 171 Alphard 09:27:35.2 -08:39:30 2.0 20.70 155 PPM 193828 10:49:43.5 -09:51:10 5.5 1.91 148 PPM 223510 10:49:32.8 -11:57:40 8.2 0.37 146 PPM 223527 10:50:12.0 -11:41:12 9.2 0.16 147 16974_Iphthime 10:50:47.4 -11:44:44 15.1 146 Positions are for J2000