Occultation event with (4068) Menestheus, event index number 3423
Regions able to see the event: SAmericaN
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/03/14 08:25:05 UTC
J2000 position of star is 11:08:28.9 +01:41:10
Equinox of date position of star is 11:09:49.6 +01:32:37
Star is 129 degrees from the moon. Moon is 23% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=14.3, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=13.9
Use an exposure time of 0.50 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 9.5 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 40% with SNR of 3.8 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 17.0 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 22.2 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 127.6 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 8.5 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 1.8 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 31.9 km.
The sky-plane scale is 2762.2 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
71.4 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 4.2 sec for a central chord
29.2 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.7 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 67.6 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 4068_Menestheus, (2026/03/14 08:25UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Regulus 10:09:45.9 +11:50:17 1.3 18.10 147 Denebola 11:50:23.7 +14:25:32 2.1 16.32 125 69 Leo 11:15:06.0 -00:12:45 5.3 2.20 126 PPM 157506 11:07:23.0 +01:04:07 7.9 0.77 129 PPM 157557 11:10:18.1 +01:26:38 9.9 0.15 128 4068_Menestheu 11:09:49.6 +01:32:37 13.9 128 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 4068_Menestheus, (2026/03/14 08:25UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Regulus 10:08:21.9 +11:58:02 1.3 18.10 147 Denebola 11:49:02.7 +14:34:16 2.1 16.32 125 69 Leo 11:13:45.5 -00:04:10 5.3 2.20 126 PPM 157506 11:06:02.2 +01:12:38 7.9 0.77 129 PPM 157557 11:08:57.3 +01:35:10 9.9 0.15 128 4068_Menestheu 11:08:28.9 +01:41:10 13.9 129 Positions are for J2000