Occultation by Ixion (2021-08-17)

Occultation map

prediction map

Download map

Information about the map:

  • The straight and continue lines are the shadow limits considering the estimated radius; when the shadow crosses the Earth's surface, the path is projected on the Earth;
  • Each blue dot is spaced by one minute and the big blue dot corresponds to the nominal occultation time (which is the geocentric closest approach);
  • The arrow shows the direction of the shadow motion;
  • The 1-σ precision along the path is represented by the red dotted line;
  • The star G* and J* are the G (from Gaia) and J (from 2MASS) magnitudes, normalized to a body moving at 20km/s in order to enhance very slow events;
  • The body offset is at the upper right corner, if JPL ephemeris is used;
  • Areas in dark grey correspond to full night (Sun elevation below -18 degrees) and areas in light grey correspond to twilight (Sun elevation between -18 and 0 degrees) while daytime is in white;
  • Be careful, the dates are from the moment of the event in Universal Time, the night of the event may begin at the date before.

Occultation circumstances

Date Tue. 17 Aug. 2021 11:36:12
Star position (ICRF) 17 56 18.8133 -30 17 43.765
C/A 0.014 arcsec
P/A 186.95 °
velocity -12.12 km/s
Geocentric distance Δ 38.1007 au
G mag* 16.4
J mag* 14.6
H mag* 12.0
Magnitude drop 2.8
Uncertainty in time 12.5 sec
Uncertainty in C/A 4.0 mas
Uncertainty in projected distance 111.5 km
Probability of occultation on centrality 98.6%
Maximum duration 45.3 sec
Moon distance to the object 11.9°
Fraction of illuminated Moon 70.7 %
Solar elongation 124.5°

Star & Object data

Occulted star

Star source ID 4056220440657653248
Stellar catalogue GaiaER3
Star astrometric position in catalogue (ICRF) 17 56 18.8157 -30 17 43.744
Star astrometric position with proper motion (ICRF) 17 56 18.8133 -30 17 43.765
Star apparent position (date) 17 57 41.9419 -30 17 55.189
Proper motion μRA* = (-5.5 ± 0.2)mas/yr; μDEC = (-3.7 ± 0.1) mas/yr
Source of proper motion GaiaER3
Uncertainty in the star position RA* = 1.1 mas; DEC= 0.8 mas
G magnitude 16.9
RP magnitude (source: GaiaER3) 15.1
BP magnitude (source: GaiaER3) 17.4
J magnitude (source: 2MASS) 13.3
H magnitude (source: 2MASS) 12.5
K magnitude (source: 2MASS) 12.3
Excess Noise 1.3 mas

Objet

Object (28978) Ixion
Diameter 549.0 km
Apparent diameter 19.9 mas
Object astrometric position (ICRF) 17 56 18.8131 -30 17 43.780
Object apparent position (date) 17 57 41.9418 -30 17 55.203
Uncertainty in position RA* = 5.4mas DEC = 4.0mas
Apparent magnitude 19.6
Ephemeris NIMAv11
Dynamic class(1) plutino
Semi major axis 39.4 au
Eccentricity 0.246 au
Inclination 19.7°
Perihelion 29.7 au
Aphelion 49.1 au
(1) Data from the johnston archive list.

Sky map (Aladin)

link to sky-map
For declination above -25 °, Pan-STARRS survey is displayed by default whereas below -25 °, DSS is displayed.

Interactive Map

The large blue line represents the centrality of the nominal prediction. The thin blue lines represent the body's limits of the nominal prediction. Red dotted lines show the 1-σ uncertainty on the body's limits. The white area represents the daylight part on Earth and the blue area represents the region on Earth where the object is not visible. The shadow at nominal time is displayed. The Sun symbol indicates the place where the Sun is at the zenith at the nominal time. The star symbol indicates the place where the occulted star is at the zenith at the nominal time. Grey zone represents the night area.
By clicking on one place, you will have an infobox with :
  • Coordinates: longitude and latitude;
  • ρ and Δd: Impact parameter (i.e. projected distance to the central line) and σ distance; Δd is (ρ-r)/σd where r is the object radius and σd is the uncertainty in distance;
  • mid time: mid time of the occultation at the selected place;
  • expected duration: expected duration of the occultation at the selected place;
  • Probability: Probability to observe the occultation on the specified place. This depends on the distance to the centrality, the size of the object and the uncertainty in the geocentric closest approach;
  • Object elevation: Object's elevation above the horizon at the selected place at the mid time.
  • Sun elevation: Sun's elevation above the horizon at the selected place at the mid time.
Once the place selected, the shadow at mid-time of the occultation for the location is displayed. The chord for your location appears in as a green dotted line. Sun and star symbols as well as the night area and area where the star is not visible are ajusted at the mid-time of your location.

Previous updates