Occultation event with (2223) Sarpedon, event index number 4416
Regions able to see the event: SAfrica
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/10/16 23:38:25 UTC
J2000 position of star is 05:42:07.6 +12:59:40
Equinox of date position of star is 05:43:38.3 +13:00:20
Star is 163 degrees from the moon. Moon is 34% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=16.7, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=14.6
Use an exposure time of 2.00 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 3.3 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 13% with SNR of 0.4 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 7.5 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 7.7 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 13.5 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 15.0 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 5.6 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 17.8 km.
The sky-plane scale is 3492.3 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
90.4 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 12.1 sec for a central chord
36.9 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 4.9 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 77.5 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 2223_Sarpedon, (2026/10/16 23:38UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Betelgeuse 05:56:37.4 +07:24:35 0.4 6.44 159 Bellatrix 05:26:34.2 +06:22:18 1.6 7.85 155 133 Tau 05:49:14.1 +13:54:26 5.0 1.63 164 PPM 121325 05:45:06.7 +13:00:21 8.1 0.36 163 PPM 121294 05:43:53.2 +12:59:20 8.6 0.06 163 2223_Sarpedon 05:43:38.3 +13:00:20 14.6 163 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 2223_Sarpedon, (2026/10/16 23:38UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Betelgeuse 05:55:10.3 +07:24:26 0.4 6.44 159 Bellatrix 05:25:07.8 +06:20:58 1.6 7.85 155 133 Tau 05:47:42.9 +13:53:59 5.0 1.63 164 PPM 121325 05:43:36.1 +12:59:44 8.1 0.36 163 PPM 121294 05:42:22.6 +12:58:40 8.6 0.06 163 2223_Sarpedon 05:42:07.6 +12:59:40 14.6 163 Positions are for J2000