Occultation event with (3451) Mentor, event index number 4984
Regions able to see the event: SAmericaS,SAfrica
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/12/02 03:02:49 UTC
J2000 position of star is 07:02:34.3 -05:39:55
Equinox of date position of star is 07:03:53.6 -05:42:22
Star is 65 degrees from the moon. Moon is 41% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=15.2, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=13.9
Use an exposure time of 1.75 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 9.9 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 24% with SNR of 2.4 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 13.7 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 14.3 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 66.5 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 24.1 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 1.1 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 34.3 km.
The sky-plane scale is 3462.5 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
122.5 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 8.9 sec for a central chord
50.0 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 3.6 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 126.3 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 3451_Mentor, (2026/12/02 03:03UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Sirius 06:46:20.1 -16:45:16 -1.5 11.85 71 2Bet CMa 06:23:53.1 -17:58:16 2.0 15.68 76 PPM 189831 07:03:15.6 -05:45:45 4.5 0.17 65 PPM 189838 07:03:26.7 -06:03:47 7.0 0.37 65 PPM 189831 07:03:15.6 -05:45:45 4.5 0.17 65 3451_Mentor 07:03:53.6 -05:42:22 13.9 65 Positions are for equinox of date
This table contains the target star visibility for registered SAmericaS sites that are relevant for this occultation. This list has been filtered to only those sites that can see the field and are within range of the shadow given the uncertainties. The observing time range has been calculated to cover the time of the event at each site with allowances for the event timing uncertainty plus time for obtaining a pre and post event baseline lightcurve. This set of stations has a 0.0 % chance of getting at least one chord. There is a 0.0% chance of 2 or more chords assuming clear weather for all.
| Site Name | Site mid-time (UT) |
Sun alt (deg) |
Sky | Moon | Star alt (deg) |
Star az (deg) |
Target | Observing Time | Xtrack (km) |
Prob |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Star training set for 3451_Mentor, (2026/12/02 03:03UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Sirius 06:45:07.9 -16:43:29 -1.5 11.85 71 2Bet CMa 06:22:42.0 -17:57:21 2.0 15.68 76 PPM 189831 07:01:56.3 -05:43:19 4.5 0.17 65 PPM 189838 07:02:07.6 -06:01:21 7.0 0.37 65 PPM 189831 07:01:56.3 -05:43:19 4.5 0.17 65 3451_Mentor 07:02:34.3 -05:39:55 13.9 65 Positions are for J2000