This prediction update has been computed by Stephen Kerr based on astrometry from Ron Stone of the US Navel Observatory - Flagstaff Station. The Tycho-1 position of the target star has been used.

Summary:

This update places the new path around 0.2" to the south of Goffins path with virtually no change in time. The path crosses the north Queensland coast at Cairns (14:42:45 UT) before running inland. The path includes Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria (14:43:25 UT), passing just to the north of Borroloola in the Northen Territory and Wyndham in Western Australia (14:44:45 UT).

• Date and approx. UT time of event: May 30, 2000 @ 14:43 UT
• Magnitude of target star: 9.35
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 5.0
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 4.9
• Path description: See above.
• Goffin's original chart reference: A00_0517

• Approximate width [km]: 80
• Map: See below

• Name: TYC 5635 00040 = PPM 231806 = SAO 159965
• Constellation: Ophiuchus
• J2000 position [h,m,s; ^o,',"]: 16h 32m 03.842s; -12^o 07' 10.17"
• Position source: Tycho 1
• V mag [mag]: 9.35
• Spectral Type: K5
• Remarks:
• The target star is in south-west Ophiuchus. It lies 2 degrees south-west of zeta Ophiuchi (magnitude = 2.6). The 7th magnitude star HIP 80974 = SAO 159966 lies 20' to the south of the target star. The globular cluster M107 (magnitude = 8) lies around 55' to the south of the target star.

• Number, name: (415) Palatia
• Approx. diameter [km]: 80.1
• Source of used astrometry: US Navel Observatory - Flagstaff Station (Ron Stone)
• Number of used observations: 6
• Number of rejected observations: 0
• Time covered by the observations: 2000 05 04 - 2000 05 17

• UT date and time of least geocentric approach: 2000 May 30, 14:43.2 UT
• Approx. V mag of minor planet at event [mag]: 14.38
• Geocentric parallax of minor planet ["]: 3.35
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 5.0
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 4.9
• Apparent motion of minor planet ["/h]: 30.94
• Angular distance to moon, phase of moon [deg,%]: 142, 12%
• Update computed by: Stephen Kerr - DOS Occult 4.2

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.