Three positve chords and three clearly observed misses were recorded for this event.

View the updated prediction.

Observers:
  1    D Watson,Thornton near Whakatane, NZ
  2    A Walker,Tauranga,NZ
  3(M) J Broughton _ Mob 2,QLD,AU
  4(M) J Broughton _ Mob 1,QLD,AU
  5    P Anderson,THE GAP,Brisbane,QLD,AU
  6(M) J Bradshaw,Samford Valley,QLD,AU
  7(P) Prediction, July 22

    

Discussion:

The ellipse above is plotted at the maximum elongation according to lightcurve database and the same area as the expected 151 km diameter of Berberica.
The DAMIT 3D model with correct orientation for the time of the event has been overlaid on the measured ellipse and shows a good fit of the chords.
With two chords and a nearby constraining miss, we can be confident of the path of Berberica and that it was south of the predicted line.

The ISAM 3D model also shows a good fit of the chords and the spin axis of the asteroid.

Peter also reported a brief visual event. There are two possible explanations for this.
1) That he has discovered a moonlet belonging to Berberica or
2) That he suffered bad atmospheric scintillation.

As his observation was done visually we unfortunately cannot review any recording and the matter will have to wait for further evidence.

The figure below shows Andrew's Tangra light curve of the occultation.

Observational Data:

Observation details for MP (776) Berbericia
By Star              TYC 6171-00445-1
On 2011-08-05  at 10:51:54.0

_______________________________

Observer   Andrew Walker
Location   Tauranga,NZ
Longitude  +176:09
Latitude   -37:42
Altitude   11 m
Datum      WGS84
Telescope Newtonian
Aperture   30 cm
Seeing     Slight flickering Clear
Camera Type
Camera Delay
Timing     GPS - time inserted Video, photo or photoelectric
Disappearance  10:51:42.58
Reappearance   10:51:46.18
Comments: Magnification unknown, 12 inch f5 using the WATEC 120N camera.

_______________________________

Observer   Diana Watson
Location   Thornton near Whakatane, NZ
Longitude  +176:51
Latitude   -37:55
Altitude   3 m
Datum      Other
Telescope SCT including Cass and Mak
Aperture  200 cm
Seeing     Steady Clear
Camera Type
Camera Delay
Timing     Tape Recorder + time signal Visual, no PE applied
Disappearance  10:51:48.20
Reappearance   10:51:53.80
Comments: moonlight but low in the sky.

_______________________________

Observer   Peter Anderson
Location   THE GAP,Brisbane,QLD,AU
Longitude  +152:55
Latitude   -27:27
Altitude   170 m
Datum      WGS84
Telescope Newtonian
Aperture   41 cm
Seeing     Slight flickering Clear
Camera Type
Camera Delay
Timing     Tape Recorder + time signal Visual, PE applied
Disappearance  10:49:03.80
Reappearance   10:49:04.80
Comments: Asteroid seen before event as late as 10hrs 20min and
very obvious when checked 11hrs 30min.
Tape recorder reveals 'hay' & comment from 04.2 sec so allowed 0.4s
PE to get 03.8s. Too quick to trigger second stopwatch.
It was like a very big atmospheric flicker.
There were small ones but not like that.
Stopwatch triggered later (04.59) and it bounced back in
about one second - not more.
[A large scintillation is the most likley explanation given that there is no previous
evidence of moonlet and the distance from the other observations - jt]
_______________________________

Observer   Jonathan Bradshaw
Location   Samford Valley
Longitude  +152:50
Latitude   -27:22
Altitude   80 m
Datum      WGS84
Telescope Newtonian
Aperture   36 cm
Seeing     Steady Clear
Camera Type
Camera Delay 0
Timing     GPS - time inserted Video with frame analysis

Missed

Comments:   Report prepopulated by IOTA Reporting Add-in for OW ver.1.6