Occultation event with (3596) Meriones, event index number 3639
Regions able to see the event: SAmericaS
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/04/15 08:00:45 UTC
J2000 position of star is 12:32:29.5 -13:57:17
Equinox of date position of star is 12:33:51.6 -14:05:59
Star is 162 degrees from the moon. Moon is 6% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=16.3, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=14.3
Use an exposure time of 1.20 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 3.1 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 18.0 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 20.1 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 101.3 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 21.6 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 1.6 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 18.1 km.
The sky-plane scale is 3235.3 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
84.3 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 4.7 sec for a central chord
34.4 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.9 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 87.4 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 3596_Meriones, (2026/04/15 08:01UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Spica 13:26:34.9 -11:17:52 1.0 13.16 153 4Gam Crv 12:17:09.7 -17:41:16 2.6 5.38 161 PPM 225991 12:33:57.8 -14:00:16 6.2 0.10 162 3596_Meriones 12:33:51.6 -14:05:59 14.3 161 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 3596_Meriones, (2026/04/15 08:01UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Spica 13:25:11.5 -11:09:41 1.0 13.16 153 4Gam Crv 12:15:48.1 -17:32:30 2.6 5.38 161 PPM 225991 12:32:35.7 -13:51:34 6.2 0.10 162 3596_Meriones 12:32:29.5 -13:57:17 14.3 162 Positions are for J2000