This update has been computed by Jan Manek and is based upon a number of astrometric positions of the asteroid obtained by Gordon Garradd at Loomberah Observatory, NSW, and also by Bill Owen at Table Mountain Observatory. An update computed by Bill Gray using the same data is in general agreement with this path. Data has also been obtained by Jack Child, but has not been used in this reduction as it was measured against GSC 1.2 star positions.

Path Update:

• The updated path hits SE Australia and runs over the Geelong/Melborne area, and then just south of Canberra and Mount Stromlo. The path also crosses the North Island of New Zealand, but observers there will be out of luck - the 10.5 mag star is too low for them. Manek estimates this update should be good to about 1 path width and 20 seconds in time. This means that observers in South Australia, Tasmania, NSW and ACT also have a chance of seeing the event.
• Predicted appulse time for Melbourne is about 10h 40.6m U.T..

This update is based upon four astrometric positions of the asteroid alone obtained by Jack Child in Hawker, ACT on March 14. The TYCHO position of the star has been used in the reduction.

Path Update:

• The updated path lies about two path-widths SOUTH of the nominal OCCULT path, and directly across Tasmania. The path also crosses southern New Zealand but at very low altitude (5 degrees!)
• Predicted appulse time is about 30 seconds later than nominal - 10h 40.5m for Tasmania and Melbourne..

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Astrometric updates such as these should not be taken as definitive, but rather only as an indication of where the true track may lie relative to the original predicted track. Observers must bear in mind that later astrometry, in which the target star is measured in the same field as the asteroid, may still reveal substantial changes to the predicted track and time of the event. For this reason it is most important that observers far from the predicted track still monitor the event.