Occultation event with (9431) Pytho, event index number 3366
Regions able to see the event: Europe
Geocentric closest approach at 2026/03/06 20:28:07 UTC
J2000 position of star is 11:41:55.9 -10:02:55
Equinox of date position of star is 11:43:15.9 -10:11:38
Star is 27 degrees from the moon. Moon is 88% illuminated.
Stellar brightness G=15.7, apparent brightess of occulting body is G=15.7
Use an exposure time of 0.50 seconds with the standard RECON-QHY system.
SNR of 3.8 per integration for unocculted signal
Expected flux drop is 51% with SNR of 2.0 for the occulted depth (per occulted point)
Apparent velocity is 17.7 km/sec on the sky relative to the star, or, 19.4 arcsec/hr.
Position angle of asteroid motion is 122.6 degrees
The recommended exposure time corresponds to 8.9 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 29.6 km.
The sky-plane scale is 3281.6 km/arcsec.
Diameter estimates:
44.9 km assuming a 5% albedo, maximum of 2.5 sec for a central chord
18.3 km assuming a 30% albedo, maximum of 1.0 sec for a central chord
Cross-track diameter of 38.4 km used for deployment plan.
Star training set for 9431_Pytho, (2026/03/06 20:28UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Spica 13:26:34.6 -11:17:50 1.0 25.39 3 4Gam Crv 12:17:09.4 -17:41:14 2.6 11.12 19 21The Crt 11:38:00.7 -09:56:50 4.7 1.32 28 PPM 194714 11:42:10.9 -10:03:46 7.4 0.30 27 PPM 224787 11:43:40.3 -10:09:14 9.4 0.11 27 9431_Pytho 11:43:15.9 -10:11:38 15.7 27 Positions are for equinox of date
Star training set for 9431_Pytho, (2026/03/06 20:28UT) Object RA Dec mag sep mel Spica 13:25:11.5 -11:09:41 1.0 25.39 3 4Gam Crv 12:15:48.1 -17:32:30 2.6 11.12 19 21The Crt 11:36:40.8 -09:48:08 4.7 1.32 28 PPM 194714 11:40:50.9 -09:55:03 7.4 0.30 27 PPM 224787 11:42:20.3 -10:00:31 9.4 0.11 27 9431_Pytho 11:41:55.9 -10:02:55 15.7 27 Positions are for J2000