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

Summary:

This update indicates a shift of around 1 path width to the north-east and around 100 seconds later than that given by Goffin. The path now crosses the North Island of New Zealand just to the north of Wellington (11:14:50 UT) including the towns of Palmerston North and Wanganui with New Plymouth very close to the northern edge (11:15:05 UT). The new path crosses the Queensland coast on the northern parts of the Sunshine Coast running north-west along the coast line. The towns of Maryborough, Bundaberg (11:17:45 UT), Gladstone, Rockhampton (11:18:00 UT) and Charters Towers all lie within the nominal path with Brisbane (11:17:25 UT), Townsville (11:18:25 UT), Cairns and Mackay very close. The path moves into the Gulf of Carpentaria around Edward River.

• Date and approx. UT time of event: May 28, 2000 @ 11:11 UT
• Magnitude of target star: 9.4
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 5.0
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 6.0
• Path description: See above.
• Goffin's original chart reference: A00_0519

• Approximate width [km]: 90
• Map: See below

• Name: HIP 80125 = PPM 321621
• Constellation: Norma
• J2000 position [h,m,s; ^o,',"]: 16h 21m 19.105s; -42^o 52' 49.60"
• Position source: Hipparcos
• V mag [mag]: 9.4
• B-V [mag]: +0.72
• Remarks:
• The target star is in northern Norma. It lies around 25' to the south east of lambda Normae (magnitude = 5.4).

• Number, name: (445) Edna
• Approx. diameter [km]: 89.8
• Source of used astrometry: US Navel Observatory - Flagstaff Station (Ron Stone)
• Number of used observations: 8
• Number of rejected observations: 0
• Time covered by the observations: 2000 05 02 - 2000 05 19

• UT date and time of least geocentric approach: 2000 May 28, 11:11.8 UT
• Approx. V mag of minor planet at event [mag]: 14.4
• Geocentric parallax of minor planet ["]: 3.55
• Magnitude drop [mag]: 5.0
• Estimated maximum duration [s]: 6.0
• Apparent motion of minor planet ["/h]: 29.98
• Angular distance to moon, phase of moon [deg,%]: 107, 30%
• 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.