215 observations have been performed during 2006, May to September  (40 positive or possibly positive) about 99 events 
(22 positive or  possibly positive) by 81 observers, from the 16  following countries (and numbers of observers) :

AT = Austria  ( 1 ), BE = Belgium  ( 3 ), BY = Belarus  ( 1 ), CH = Switzerland  ( 1 ), CZ = Czech Republic  ( 5 ),
DE = Germany  ( 11 ), ES = Spain  ( 12 ), FR = France  ( 26 ), IE = Ireland ( 1 ), IT = Italy  ( 4 ), NL = The Netherlands  ( 1 ), PL = Poland  ( 3 ), PT = Portugal  ( 1 ),  RU = Russia ( 5 ),   SK = Slovakia  (3 ), UK = United Kingdom  ( 3 ).

BLM, usually a Dutch observer, is registered as a French one.

You will find in the table hereafter the list of the observers abbreviations in alphabetical order, with the number of observations made by each of them. Welcome to the new observers (in bold characters)!

TAROT (Acronym for “Télescope à Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires”) is an automatic telescope, located at Calern Observatory, dedicated to g-rays bursts optical study; when available, it can be used for various survey programs.

2006 (May to September) Observations

Observations are usually visual and negative, excepted when otherwise specified. All times are in UTC.

2006.05.04  : ( 63210 ) 2001AH13 / TYC 5714-00494-1                      RTH     trt

RTH : videorecording

2006.05.04  : ( 2976 ) Lautaro / 2UCAC 26705268                 ELL      trt

ELL : videorecording, was on predicted central track. Due to clouds, recording started only 30 sec after predicted appulse time.

2006.05.05  : ( 752 ) Sulamitis / TYC 6207-00869-1                            

Only two positive observations :

Both observers were in the predicted path: IVY 14 km north, ZHS: 24 km south from the centreline (max predicted duration: 6.7 s).

2006.05.07  : ( 152 ) Atala / TYC 5558-01048-1

Only one positive observation:

OJR was nearly on the centre of the predicted track but his observation is significantly shorter than the max duration (5.3 s).

2006.05.11  : ( 364 ) Isara / TYC 5599-00569-1                                   BCL     trt

2006.05.12  : ( 377 ) Campania / TYC 4963-01117-1                           PAW

and three positive :

JGS,  FAP,  MHC : videorecording  (FAP and MHC: visual timing of the star on a PC screen) ;

PAW : with P. De CAT, CCD recording, no occ. > 1.5 s

Positive observations show the prediction to be exact as FAP, MCC and JGS were situated on the centreline and effectively observed events with duration close to max predicted one 

(10.8 s). A relative shift of about 1.8 s between JGS and the two other observers, is necessary to fit the set of chord with a circular body (90 km in diameter, in perfect agreement with the 

one used fro calculation).

2006.05.12  : ( 16956 ) 1998MQ11 / TYC 1417-00533-1                     DEN    DGG    DZR     KCM   RTH
                                                                                                                            SPL     VIJ with GJD

DEN, DGG, RTH : videorecording; VIJ : CCD drift-scan, short survey relative to the imprecision of the prediction;
KCM : no occ. > 1 s

Incertitude was great for this small asteroid (25 km).

2006.05.18  : ( 368 ) Haidea / 2UCAC 24872095                                 DNZ    RTH

DNZ, RTH : videorecording

These two negative observations show the real path has been shifted, since both observers were in the predicted path. The lack of positive observation lets the position of the real path remaining unknown. Incertitude was great for this small asteroid (18 km in diameter).

2006.05.23  : ( 530 ) Turandot / TYC 1398-00050-1                ALY     BCL     BDR    FBI      JGB     MRX
                                                                                                                RSG     SUM

and two positive :

BCL: videorecording; JGB, NNE, RSG: CCD drift-scan

The BCL, BDR and RSG negative observations and the NNE positive one are consistent with a shift of the shadow path ~1.8 its width toward south, relative to S. PRESTON prediction. NNE was probably close to the real centreline since he registered an event with duration equal to the max predicted one (3.4 s).

JLX observation is irreconcilable with the others (especially the RSG negative observation, shifted only 11.2 km laterally relative to the shadow motion) and thus remains unexplained. Note that this event occurred about 15 s later than the S. PRESTON predicted time.

2006.05.26  : ( 1143 ) Odysseus / 2UCAC 24973530                                       LZJ

and one positive :

PSY : CCD drift scan, stopped too early

PSY was effectively in the predicted path but the long duration relative to the max predicted one (16.8 s) shows he was nearly on the centreline, what should imply a slight shift toward 

north. LZJ was just at the predicted southern border.

2006.05.28  : ( 3896 ) Pordenone / TYC 6264-02180-1                                    PCI

PCI : CCD drift scan; incertitude was great for this small asteroid (18 km).

2006.05.28  : ( 8036 ) Maehara / HIP 69427                                                    SWM

Incertitude was great for this small asteroid (13 km).

2006.05.29  : ( 22014 ) 1999XQ96 / 2UCAC 27726985                                   MBU

2006.05.29  : ( 5222 ) Ioffe / TYC 1002-00247-1                                              MBU

MBU was in the predicted track but incertitude was great for this small asteroid (22 km).

2006.06.01  : ( 622 ) Esther / TYC 4990-00604-1                                             GAR

2006.06.01  : ( 704 ) Interamnia / 2UCAC 31789391

Only one positive observation :

DNZ : videorecording. This positive observation shows the prediction to be exact.

2006.06.07  : ( 1618 ) Dawn / TYC 6244-00688-1  BCL           DGG

DGG : videorecording

2006.06.12  : ( 1468 ) Zomba / HIP 66550                               BOL     DGG    PCI

DGG : videorecording; PCI : CCD drift scan

2006.06.14  : ( 2932 ) Kempchinsky / HIP 82265                    BCL     BOL    DLR    FMY    GRS     JNK
                                                                                                                OTA    trt

and one positive :

DGG : videorecording, 

FMY and GRS were both in the predicted shadow path. Their negative observations show the real one has been shifted. The event observed by DGG is probably related to (2932) 

Kempchinsky as it occurred at the predicted time for his location, so the shift must have been as great as 4 path widths.

2006.06.21  : ( 558 ) Carmen / TYC 5764-00884-1

Two positive observations:

JGS : videorecording.

JGS and BUL were situated on the southern limit of the predicted shadow path, BUL a little more southerly. Reduction shows that only the BUL 3rd event is compatible with the JGS 

observation, letting the two firsts unexplained. 

The observations show the real path has been slightly shifted toward south, relative to the prediction, since both observers registered an event with significantly long duration, relative 

to the max predicted one (9 s).

2006.06.26  : ( 1439 ) Vogtia / TYC 6866-02020-1                               DGG    trt

DGG : videorecording

2006.07.01  : ( 657 ) Gunlod / TYC 7345-00965-1                   JLX      SCB

JLX : CCD imaging;  SCB : videorecording, no occ. > 1.3 s

2006.07.02  : ( 3709 ) Polypoites / 2UCAC 32078408             DGG     DNZ    EEA with FAR   JLX
                                                                                                                            JNK    RTH     SPL     trt

DGG, DNZ, EEA, RTH  : videorecording; JLX : CCD imaging 

(3709) Polypoites is a Trojan asteroid. RTH was in the predicted path. The real one has been shifted but the lack of positive lets its position remaining unknown.

2006.07.06  : ( 925 ) Alphonsina / TYC 6334-01720-1                         ala        CNS    MJL     trt

and one positive :

ala, CNS : videorecording; JLX : CCD imaging; CNS and MJL were in double station

The positive observation shows the Pic du Midi was almost on the centreline. As the S. PRESTON's update put it upon the northern limit, the path must have been shifted toward north. This shift made CNS and MJL just miss the shadow by a few kilometres.

Results of differential astrometry are in perfect agreement with the occultation record :

JLX at Pic du Midi Obs. (pdm) : N 42 56 10.8 E 00 08 32.2 +2880 m

        [asteroid  0".006 ± 0".007 (8 ± 7 km)  (2 sd)  SSW of star at 23:02:17 UTC ± 3 sec., from 139 CCD images]

2006.07.07  : ( 2330 ) Ontake / TYC 0299-00762-1

Only one positive observation :

GCV : CCD drift scan

2006.07.12  : ( 1980 ) Tezcatlipoca / TYC 3967-02500-1     IMV with OPI

IMV : CCD imaging, was at immediate vicinity of the predicted path. Incertitude was great for this small asteroid (13 km).

2006.07.12  : ( 444 ) Gyptis / TYC 5109-00140-1

Only one positive observation :

JLX with J. MONTANNÉ, his sons and A. DORIVAUD. Unfortunately the main reappearance occurred during a 0.51 s  technical interruption (for automatic file saving), or maybe just before it. So it results a large ±0.4 s uncertainty of the R1 time.

Pic du Midi was just near one of the border of the predicted shadow path.

2006.07.16  : ( 979 ) Ilsewa / TYC 5711-00579-1                                 DGG    SPS

DGG : videorecording; SPS : CCD drift scan, was just on the southern border of the predicted shadow path.

2006.07.19  : ( 2103 ) Laverna / 2UCAC 21390951                             BOL    trt

2006.07.25  : ( 538 ) Friederike / TYC 0031-01018-1                           FRP with COF and LVY

FRP : CCD imaging

2006.07.27  : ( 739 ) Mandeville / 2UCAC 30299835            

Only one positive observation :

FRP : CCD imaging, with COF and LVY; Gradual ~1s D, mid-time given

Observed duration is close to the max predicted one (5.6 s), what shows that the event was central on the Pic du Midi and the real path has been shifted by about one path width toward 

south.

2006.07.27  : ( 11252 ) Laertes / TYC 6848-02363-1                           GCV    trt

GCV : CCD drift scan

2006.07.28  : ( 1055 ) Tynka / TYC 6296-01975-1                                           CNS    OJR     PEC

CNS, PEC : videorecording. Incertitude was great for this small asteroid (13 km).

2006.07.28  : ( 3999 ) Aristarchus / TYC 5795-01195-1                                   MBU   JSZ      PEC     trt

MBU and JSZ in double station; PEC : videorecording

2006.08.06  : ( 2291 ) Kevo / TYC 0473-05371-1                                 PEC     trt

and one positive :

PEC : videorecording,

The observations are consistent with a shift of the shadow path toward SE, by about one of its width, which puts RYF in the shadow but PEC out of it.

2006.08.13  : ( 713 ) Luscinia / TYC 5605-01092-1                              CZA    EBA    KGF    trt

EBA, KGF : CCD drift scan

CZA and EBA in double station, were in the predicted path. The set of negative observations shows the real path has been shifted by at least a third of its width, probably toward north, but the lack of positive one lets its position remaining unknown.

2006.08.14  : ( 1352 ) Wawel / TYC 6254-00398-1                               DGG    trt

DGG : videorecording ; an occultation may have been missed, due to clouds : survey started only at 21:07:05 for a predicted event at 21:06:30.

2006.08.15  : ( 496 ) Gryphia / TYC 0004-00873-1                              NNE

NNE : CCD drift-scan, was at immediate proximity of the predicted path but incertitude was great for this small (15 km) asteroid.

2006.08.15  : ( 7868 ) Barker / TYC 0638-00992-1                              DEN    DGG    JNK    RTH

DEN, DGG, RTH : videorecording. These three observers (resp. JNK) were at immediate proximity of (resp. in) the predicted path, but incertitude was great for this small asteroid (18 km).

2006.08.20  : ( 98 ) Ianthe / TYC 6954-00523-1                                   NVI

2006.08.30  : ( 1609 ) Brenda / TYC 1329-00893-1                              PEC with CAS

PEC : videorecording

2006.09.02  : ( - ) 2001 QS 322 / TYC 5252-00533-1                            UTF

2001 QS 322 is a Trans Neptunian Object

2006.09.07  : ( 494 ) Virtus / TYC 1871-00287-1                    DGG    

and four positive :

DGG, DLR, PEC (with CAS) : videorecording ; PCI : CCD drift scan

The PEC and trt chords are in mutual good agreement. They are shifted relative to DLR and PCI chords by 0.8 s and 2 s resp., to fit with a 86 km in diameter circular profile, in agreement 

with the diameter used for calculations.

The positive observations show the prediction to be exact.

2006.09.08  : ( 582 ) Olympia / 2UCAC 28668310

Only one positive observation :

JGS : videorecording, was out of  the predicted path, close to its northern border. The positive result shows the real path has probably been slightly shifted toward north.

2006.09.09  : ( 36269 ) 1999 XB 214 / 2UCAC 25869443                    DGG    JLX

1999 XB 214 is a Trojan asteroid;  DGG : videorecording;  JLX : CCD imaging, survey disturbed by clouds.

2006.09.10  : ( 547 ) Praxedis / TYC 0735-02386-1                             CNS    PEC with CAS

and one positive :

PEC : videorecording; JLX : CCD imaging, noticed a progressive disappearance : the measured star flux was only ~46 % of its normal level on the D-image (mid-exposure at 03:46:22.64), but normally jumped at the reappearance from zero (03:46:25.07) to the full luminosity (03:46:25.35).

As the max predicted duration was 2.5 s, JLX was nearly on the real centreline. The shadow path has been significantly shifted, as he was about one path width toward north from the predicted border.

2006.09.10  : ( 1735 ) Salli / TYC 0643-00086-1                                   JLX      PCI

JLX : CCD imaging; PCI : CCD drift-scan, survey not including the appulse time

2006.09.11  : ( 563 ) Suleika / TYC 1398-01347-1                   DLR     JLX      RVA

and one positive :

JLX : partial observation due to fog, no occ >0.4 s; RVA : videorecording

Note that the trt first event occurred at the expected time so it corresponds with the predicted one. It has been almost central, since max predicted duration was 1.3 s. So, the real path has been shifted toward south by about half of its width.

The secondary event in case of a double asteroid should correspond to a 25 km body, at a separation projected about 2700 km on the sky plane.

2006.09.18  : ( 4668 ) 1987 DX 5 / HIP 19679                         JNK     OTA

OTA : no occ. > 0.5 s

2006.09.19  : ( 486 ) Gryphia / TYC 0585-00531                     CQU    GAR    trt

CQU with VDC, :  CCD drift scan 

2006.09.19  : ( 144 ) Vibilia / TYC 1879-02151-1  BLM          BTG     DGE    GCV    IBV      IVY

                                                                                                                LAB     OJR

and eight positive :

IVY : double observation (CCD drift scan and visual)

CQU (with VDC), FRP (with LVY), GCV, SPS :CCD drift scan; JLX, PEC (with CAS) : videorecording

SCE : CCD drift scan; duration must be good, but absolute timing may be in error by up to ±1.5 s.

TYC 1879-02151-1 has been identified with the double star COU 581, with components of Mv 10.4 (A) and 10.5 (B). Separation was extrapolated by JLX from the available measurements as 0.26” at PA = 241°, leading to the publication of a last minute prediction with two separate tracks.

All observational data are leading to an elongated (159 X 135 km) profile of (144) Vibilia, and a separation of B at  0.26”
and PA = 240° relative to A, in perfect agreement with the extrapolated values and a direct measurement performed by JLX after the event at the Pic du Midi observatory.

2006.09.19  : ( 1628 ) Strobel / 2UCAC 30919236                  NVI      trt

2006.09.22  : ( 519 ) Sylvania / 2UCAC 41685659                  GRS     SMD    SPL     SPS      trt

and two positive :

DGG, PRB : videorecording ; SPS : CCD drift-scan

PRB observation doesn’t seem to be related to (519) Sylvania, since it has not been confirmed by SMD neither by SPS, the three observers being nearly on the same chord.

The DGG positive observation shows the real path has been slightly shifted toward south-east.

2006.09.23  : ( 25 ) Phocaea / TYC 2250-01193-1

Only one positive observation :

HSC observation is in perfect agreement with the prediction.

2006.09.24  : ( 75 ) Eurydike / TYC 5807-00454-1                               IVY

IVY : double observation (CCD drift scan and visual), was at 6 km south the centreline, for a predicted path width of 74 km. His negative observation shows the real path to be shifted but the lack of positive observation lets its position remaining unknown.

2006.09.24  : ( 2416 ) Sharonov / TYC 0059-00683-1                          JNK     OKE    OTA    PAR

OKE, PAR : videorecording; for all observers : no occ. > 0.5 s

2006.09.25  : ( 126155 ) 2001YJ140 / 2UCAC 41676794                     UTF

2001YJ140 is a Trans Neptunian Object

2006.09.25  : ( 697 ) Galilea / 2UCAC 44280391                                 DEN    JNK    PEC

and three positive :

HPT : with SVA; PEC : videorecording, many interruptions due to clouds; DEN, GHL, RTH : videorecording

JNK : no occ. > 0.5 s

Reduction shows that DEN missed the event by a few kilometres. The three positive observations permit to draw nearly a half circular profile of (697) Galilea, in agreement with the mean diameter used for calculations (80 km). The observations show the real path has been shifted by about half of its width, toward south-east, relative to the prediction.

2006.09.26  : ( 2169 ) Taiwan / TYC 1848-01532-1                 FIM      JNK

2006.09.27  : ( 726 ) Joella / 2UCAC 37168813                      RVA

RVA : videorecording

2006.09.30  : ( 688 ) Melanie / TYC 5688-00462-1              DGG        RTH

DGG, RTH : videorecording;

RTH was in the predicted path. His negative observation shows the real path to be shifted but the lack of positive observation lets its position remaining unknown.

2006.09.30  : ( 6924 ) Fukui / TYC 1227-00280-1  JNK           VIJ with GJD

and one positive :

JNK : no occ. > 0.5 s; SMD : videorecording; VIJ : CCD drift-scan

SMD was far from the predicted path. Such a wide shift is not unlikely as the incertitude was great for this small asteroid (19 km). Nevertheless the observed duration is significantly greater than the maximum predicted one (2.1 s).

The 37  following events have been observed by TAROT only – all negative results :

2006/05/10   : (5289)        1990 KG2 / 2UCAC 29003741                        2006/05/11   : (13694)     1997 WW7 / 2UCAC 29381871        

2006/05/27   : (1397)       Umtata / TYC 5592-01109-1                           2006/05/30   : (3694)       Sharon / TYC 6878-00692-1              

2006/06/13   : (74477)     1999 CY66 / TYC 6722-01213-1                      2006/06/18   : (5670)       Rosstaylor / 2UCAC 24455465        

2006/06/22   : (44525)     1998 YE4 / 2UCAC 26456855                         2006/06/25   : (2900)        Lubos Perek / 2UCAC 25906076     

2006/06/27   : (27226)     1999 GC17 / HIP 88795                                    2006/07/02   : (3975)       Verdi / HIP 100471             

2006/07/04   : (24244)     1999 XY101 / 2UCAC 28463158                    2006/07/06   : (3088)       Jinxiuzhonghua / TYC 5174-00227-1

2006/07/16   : (6546)       Kaye / HIP 101969                                           2006/07/18   : (7994)       Bethellen / TYC 6321-00362-1          

2006/07/22   : (5090)       Wyeth / TYC 5617-00819-1                            2006/07/24   : (2642)       Vesale / TYC 0451-01110-1               

2006/07/24   : (3353)       Jarvis / TYC 2161-00974-1                              2006/07/24   : (1297)       Quadea / TYC 1825-00096-1             

2006/07/25   : (2344)       Xizang / 2UCAC 22105973                             2006/07/25   : (7183)       1991 RE16 / TYC 5777-01042-1        

2006/07/25   : (5255)       Johnsophie / TYC 6899-01494-1                   2006/07/28   : (4695)       1985 RU3 / TYC 5141-00768-1          

2006/07/29   : (537)         Pauly / 2UCAC 23970481 2006/07/30         : (2930)           Euripides / TYC 6377-01606-1              

2006/07/30   : (826)         Henrika / 2UCAC 27908888                           2006/07/31   : (14379)     1989 UM4 / TYC 0515-02334-1        

2006/08/01   : (3774)       Megumi / TYC 5219-01204-1                         2006/08/06   : (7662)       1994 RM1 / 2UCAC 36757650          

2006/08/13   : (1258)       Sicilia / TYC 0576-00710-1                              2006/08/14   :  (3246)      Bidstrup / 2UCAC 35670186            

2006/08/21   : (4576)       1988 CC / TYC 5757-01260-1                          2006/08/28   : (2448)       Sholokhov / 2UCAC 33876192        

2006/09/05   : (17194)     1999 XA221 / 2UCAC 36035799                    2006/09/06   : (1138)       Attica / TYC 5175-00304-1

2006/09/07   : (7549)       Woodard / TYC 1188-01450-1                       2006/09/10   : (1322)       Coppernicus / TYC 2722-00416-1    

2006/09/11   : (14931)     1994 WR3 / HIP 4158        

It is necessary to send a report even if there has been no occultation from your place (negative observation). These negative observations can sometimes be of as great interest as positive ones : they can be decisive to determine the shape (“shepherd observations”), refine the orbit of the asteroid or discover un unknown satellite !

Please DON’T FORGET to use the IAU format YYMMDD for the date of your reports.

Clear skies for all.

G. REGHEERE gillesregheere@yahoo.fr

96 rue de Mercantour

78310  Maurepas    -   FRANCE