The list shows occultations of possible double stars during May. Although the main emphasis remains on stars with separations < 2", now that the more detailed lunar limb profile from LOLA is available, some wider pairs are included. Doubles predicted to be occulted by the Moon during May 2018 and visible from parts of Australia or New Zealand are included. The listing is a very abbreviated version of predictions produced by Occult plus an indication of the region of visibility. Observers need to generate their own precise predictions using Occult.

The list below is generated by OCCULT for a 25cm telescope. Some of the events could be beyond the reach of smaller telescopes. Observations of all pairs in the list are highly desirable. Those showing an OCc number have been reported as non-instantaneous at a lunar occultation. Confirmation or otherwise of any double nature is wanted.

*** Kepler stars: the nights on which they are occulted are indicated. Individual Keplers are only shown if they are also a known or possible double. Light curve of occultations of all Kepler stars are desired.

Please send reports of all observations of these stars to Brian Loader at brian.loader@slingshot.co.nz, including any made in earlier months and not so far reported. And of course if you observe a stepped event for a star, which is not a known double, please report this. More details about reporting follow the predictions.

ARCHIVING OCCULTATION LIGHT CURVES

For ALL lunar occultations: single, double and Kepler K2 stars a csv file should be prepared for archiving. This can be done through the OBSERVATIONS EDITOR of OCCULT.

It will be necessary to generate a light curve using LIMOVIE and save or copy its csv file. You will also need to note the time, hh:mm:ss.sss of one frame and the corresponding frame number.

Then in the Observations Editor select the entry for the star and use the menu bar option to create a Light Curve Report. Follow the instructions on the new screen which appears. There is a help file. It is suggested that light curve reports be emailed in batches rather than singly. They are sent directly to Dave Herald from the program.

********************************************************************************
 d P    Star  Mag    %         Double details        WDS or   Area of
May      No    v    ill      magnitudes sepn    PA°  OCC #    Visibility
 1 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    SCM,AkWChI
 2 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWChI
 2 r  160088  9.7   93- : AB 10.1 11.3  0.14" 332.9  HU  313  TSCM
 3 r  160645  8.7   88- : AB  9.0  9.0  0.09"  86.5  B 1863   TSCM,AkWChI
                        : AC  8.7 12.0  0.20" 134.0  TOK 418  TSCM,AkWChI
 4 r  161273# 7.6   82- : AB  8.40 8.27 0.50" 112.0  BU  246  ,WChI
                        : Bab 8.7  9.6  0.10" 334.0  WEI  89  ,WChI
 4 r X 43762* 8.2   81- : AB  9.0  9.3  0.30" 273.0  WRH  30  ,WChI
 4 r  161355#?8.5   81- : AB  8.6 11.3  1.8"  333.1  DON 892  ,AkWChI
 4 r  161364  9.0   81- : AB  9.1 12.1  1.7"  326.6  RST3177  ,AkWChI
 5 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    ,AkWChI
 5 r    2798* 6.1   73- : AB  7.0  7.1  0.14" 270.6  B   427° ,AkWChI
   ***   2798 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 217877915}
 5 r X 45788  9.5   72- : AB  9.9 12.6  8.4"  342.8  ARA1177  BTSCM,AkWChI
 5 r X 45841  9.8   72- : AB  9.9 11.5  1.8"  346.7  I   647  RBTS,Ak
 6 R    2940* 7.4   63- : AB  7.5 10.2  0.05" 239.0  HDS2873° R
 7 r  163989  7.3   54- : AB  6.2  9.5  1.1"  307.7  JAY   1  BTSCM,WChI
 8 R    3177* 5.9   45- : **  6.8  6.8  0.10"  90.0  OCc1608  ,AkWChI
 8 R    3181* 6.0   45- : **  6.7  6.7  0.050" 35.0  OCc1610  ,AkW
                        : AB  5.4  9.5  4.3"  229.0  DRS  68  ,AkW
 8 R    3207  8.2   43- : AB  8.2 11.4  1.45"  32.0  RST4062  RBTSCM,AkW
10 r  146703 10.0   25- : AB 10.1 11.0  6.4"  140.1  J  1424  ,Ak
10 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkW
11 R  128654  7.2   17- : **  8.2  8.2  0.05" 143.0  OCc 593  ,ChI
11 r X 32485 10.2   16- : AB 10.8 11.0  0.70" 251.0  TDS1379  ,AkWChI
12 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWChI
12 r  109703  9.2    9- : AB  9.4 11.8  4.28"  38.6  A  2311  RBTSCM,WChI
   *** 109703 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 220296220}
12 r X 32781 11.1    9- : AB 11.2 11.8  4.1"   97.1  BAL1253  ,Ak
13 R     303  6.4    3- : **  7.2  7.4  0.40" 115.0  OCc1174  M

17 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWChI
17 D     790# 6.8E   4+ : AB  6.8  9.7 10.1"  149.1  STF 674  ,AkWChI
          790:  B star is X 73515
   ***    790 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 247253928}
17 d X  6857  9.7    5+ : AB  9.8 10.4  5.6"  166.8  J   144  RBTSCM
     X  6857:  B star is 6858
   *** X  6857 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 247253361}
18 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RB,AkWChI
18 d X  8802# 9.4   10+ : AB  9.4  9.7  2.4"   16.4  AG  109  ,AkWCh
      X  8802:  B star is X 86250
18 D   78267* 7.6   10+ : **  8.5  8. 5 0.10" 100.0  OCc 317  ,AkWChI
18 d X 87543 10.2   11+ : AB 10.2 11.4  2.2"  113.1  J   688  RBTSCM
   *** X 87543 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 202093968}
18 d     987  8.0   11+ : **  8.5  8.5  0.10"  90.0  OCc1317  RTSCM
19 D   79361  7.3   19+ : AB  7.68 8.5  1.92" 235.7           ,ChI
       79361:  B star is X101046
19 d   79480  8.1   20+ : AB  8.1 12.4  5.4"  309.0           M
20 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWChI
20 D   97883# 7.8   30+ : **  8.4  8.9  0.02" 214.0  OCc1672  TSCM,I
   ***  97883 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 211949189}
22 D   99157  7.4   53+ : AB  7.69 8.76 0.12"   9.8  STF1081  RBTSCM,AkWCh
   ***  99157 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 248861096}
23 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RSCM,I
24 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSC,I
26 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWCh
26 d  139562  9.4   89+ : AB 9.75 10.53 1.10" 174.6  A    13  ,AkWChI
26 d  139661  9.4   91+ : AB  9.1 12.0  4.2"  249.1  RST4521  RBTSCM
26 d  139678  8.6   91+ : **  8.8  8.8  0.10"  90.0  OCc  35  RBTSCM
27 d    2113# 7.6   96+ : AB  7.92 9.21 0.42" 310.9  HU  141° RBTSCM,AkWCh
28 d  159305  9.3   98+ **Aab 9.6  9.6  0.10"  90.0  OCc  21  BTS,AkWCh                     
   *** 159305 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 250144852}
28 d   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWI
28 d X133538  8.9   99+ : AB  9.6  9.9  5.6"  269.0  HWE  37  R
29 d    2352  7.0  100+ : AB  7.6  7.8  0.05" 187.4  CHR  54° RB,Ak
   r    2352  7.0  100+ : AB  7.6  7.8  0.05" 187.4  CHR  54° B,Ak

30 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWChI
30 r X 42128# 9.6   99- : AB  9.1  9.6  1.9"  210.9  BU  958  RB
     X 42128: B star is X141055
   *** X141055 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 234426295}
30 R    2497* 6.5   99- : Aab 7.8  7.8  1.3"  105.0  OCc 529  RBTSCM,Ak
   ***   2497 is in the Kepler2 program {ID = 234426962}
30 r  160511  8.1   99- : AB  8.2 10.9  0.50" 325.0  HDS2456  RBTSCM
30 r  160539  8.9   99- : AB  9.6  9.6  0.08" 311.1  RST5542  CM
31 r  160993  8.9   97- : AB  8.9 10.9  1.1"   41.0  A  2387  ,AkWChI
31 r   *** Kepler Stars occulted, light curves are desired    RBTSCM,AkWChI
31 R    2638  5.3   96- : Aab 5.3  8.4        203.0  SNA  82  R
                        : AB  5.4 10.6  1.3"   78.1  TOK  59  R
31 R    2639* 6.0   96- : Aab 6.5  6.9  0.10" 159.9  CHR 255  RBTSCM,AkWCh
31 r  161220  8.2   96- : AB  8.9  9.0  0.20" 343.0  B  1883  ,WI
31 R    2642# 7.0   96- : AB  7.24 8.89 0.04" 138.3  MCA  51  RBTSC

======================================================================

Visibility codes:
Australia: R Rockhampton, B Brisbane, T Tamworth, S Sydney, C Canberra, M Melbourne  

NZ (following a ,) Ak Auckland, W Wellington, Ch Christchurch, I Invercargill.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stars with previous occultation observations: 

#: Observations indicating double - these need further checking
*: Observations not showing double - need confirmation
!: Recent video discoveries - confirmation needed.
?: Uncertain double observation, confirmation or otherwise needed

A WDS number followed by a ° sign indicates the double has a known orbit.

==================================================================

Reporting Your Observations

The most convenient way of reporting is to use Dave Herald's OCCULT which has a Double Star report option in the Observations editor. Before using it, generate a light curve with Limovie and copy to the clip board. Your graph will be attached to the email which you can then send to brian.loader@slingshot.co.nz.

Otherwise in reporting please include your name and positional data as for other occultations reports, also your telescope type and method of observing and timekeeping.

For each event give the star name and the times of each step of the event with the corresponding accuracy. The limb PA, Rv and Cct of the event would also be useful.

In addition to measures of the PA and separation of binary stars, there is also a need for an estimate of the magnitude difference. An estimate of this can be made from the step sizes shown by Limovie data. So if possible a determination should be made of the size of each step together with an estimate of accuracy.

Please also report cases where a double event is predicted but none detected. These are especially likely with stars shown with an OCc designation

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