Occultation event with (3240) Laocoon, event index number 3225
Regions able to see the event: SAmericaN
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/02/08 01:01:01 UTC
J2000 position of star is 02:18:59.2 +16:07:33
Equinox of date position of star is 02:20:25.3 +16:14:42
Star is 175 degrees from the moon. Moon is 64% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=14.8, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=16.0
Use an exposure time of 0.65 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 9.3 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 74% with SNR of 6.9 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 18.6 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 17.4 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 74.6 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 12.1 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 1.0 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 27.7 km.
The sky-plane scale is 3844.2 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
52.7 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 2.8 sec for a central chord
21.5 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.2 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 51.7 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 3240_Laocoon, (2026/02/08 01:01UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Aldebaran 04:37:25.3 +16:33:35 0.8 32.82 142 6Bet Ari 01:56:05.3 +20:56:04 2.6 7.43 176 19 Ari 02:14:29.0 +15:24:03 5.7 1.66 176 PPM 118153 02:23:16.6 +16:16:50 8.4 0.69 174 PPM 118131 02:21:23.1 +16:21:16 10.0 0.26 174 3240_Laocoon 02:20:25.3 +16:14:42 16.0 174 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 3240_Laocoon, (2026/02/08 01:01UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Aldebaran 04:35:55.4 +16:30:29 0.8 32.82 142 6Bet Ari 01:54:38.6 +20:48:26 2.6 7.43 176 19 Ari 02:13:03.5 +15:16:47 5.7 1.66 176 PPM 118153 02:21:50.4 +16:09:45 8.4 0.69 174 PPM 118131 02:19:57.0 +16:14:09 10.0 0.26 174 3240_Laocoon 02:18:59.2 +16:07:33 16.0 175 Positions are for J2000