An 8.4 second occultation was recorded by John Broughton, using video OSD technique.

View the updated prediction.

Observers:
  1(M) J Broughton,Reedy Creek, QLD,AU
  2    J Broughton,Brunswick Heads, QLD,AU
  3(P) Prediction 5 April

    

Discussion:

The circle above is plotted at the expected 69 km diameter of Happelia. With only one chord it is not possible to determine whether John's mobile station was north or south of the central line of the event. However, assuming the updated prediction was approximately correct the longer than expected chord of about 78 km would suggest that the chord might lie close to the central portion of the asteroid.
An observation with 5 chords on 2005 May 23 in USA indicated an elongated object 82 km by 57 km which is consistent with this observation.

Observational Data:

_____________________________________________________________
Observation details for MP (578 ) Happelia
By Star              UCA 2U20751392
On 2009-05-15  at 17:03:16.0
_______________________________

Observer   J Broughton
Location   Reedy Creek, QLD 4227, Australia
Longitude  +153:23:52.9
Latitude   -28:06:30.4
Altitude   66 m
Datum      WGS84
Telescope Newtonian
Aperture   51 cm
Seeing     Slight flickering Clear
Timing     Image analysis + time signal Drift scan

Missed

Comments: : Unattended drift-scan observation.
_______________________________

Observer   J Broughton
Location   Brunswick Heads, QLD , Australia
Longitude  +153:32:55.4
Latitude   -28:33:4.8
Altitude   5 m
Datum      WGS84
Telescope SCT
Aperture   25 cm
Seeing     Slight flickering Clear
Timing     GPS - time inserted Video with frame analysis
Disappearance  17:03:05.80
Reappearance   17:03:14.20
Comments: : Mobile observation using a Watec 120N+ at 16X integration (0.64sec).
: I overdid the integration as a result of forgeting to attach a focal reducer.
: Without it, the image scale was different from that of my ScanTracker printout
: and I couldn't recognize the star patterns until after the drift through.
: The integration was supposed to be reduced once the target was identified.
: Not until later in the day when I replayed the video was I able to ascertain
: that the target did actually drift through the field and was occulted.
: The times are estimates of where within the 16X integrations D and R occurred.