Occultation event with (6997) Laomedon, event index number 3189
Regions able to see the event: SAmericaN
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/01/31 01:01:47 UTC
J2000 position of star is 02:38:40.1 +03:59:00
Equinox of date position of star is 02:40:01.9 +04:05:41
Star is 69 degrees from the moon. Moon is 95% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=14.3, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=16.6
Use an exposure time of 0.35 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 9.3 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 89% with SNR of 8.3 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 12.4 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 11.0 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 62.2 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 4.3 km per image.
The 1-sigma error in the time of the event is 1.2 seconds.
The 1-sigma cross-track error in the shadow position is 29.0 km.
The sky-plane scale is 4060.0 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
45.5 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 3.7 sec for a central chord
18.6 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.5 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 37.5 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 6997_Laomedon, (2026/01/31 01:02UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Aldebaran 04:37:25.2 +16:33:34 0.8 31.38 37 Menkar 03:03:38.8 +04:11:26 2.5 5.89 64 78Nu Cet 02:37:14.8 +05:42:20 4.9 1.75 69 PPM 145770 02:39:58.4 +03:33:17 7.1 0.54 69 PPM 145790 02:41:09.6 +04:31:54 9.5 0.52 68 PPM 145767 02:39:15.8 +04:16:49 10.3 0.27 69 6997_Laomedon 02:40:01.9 +04:05:41 16.6 69 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 6997_Laomedon, (2026/01/31 01:02UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Aldebaran 04:35:55.4 +16:30:29 0.8 31.38 37 Menkar 03:02:16.8 +04:05:21 2.5 5.89 64 78Nu Cet 02:35:52.4 +05:35:35 4.9 1.75 69 PPM 145770 02:38:36.8 +03:26:35 7.1 0.54 69 PPM 145790 02:39:47.6 +04:25:14 9.5 0.52 68 PPM 145767 02:37:54.0 +04:10:07 10.3 0.27 69 6997_Laomedon 02:38:40.1 +03:59:00 16.6 69 Positions are for J2000