Electronic Telegram No. 1986
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
URL http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html


OCCULTATIONS BY THE (93) MINERVA SYSTEM
     F. Marchis, Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute and University of
California at Berkeley; and P. Descamps, J. Berthier, and F. Colas, Institut
de Mecanique Celeste et de Calcul des Ephemerides, Observatoire de Paris,
report on analysis of images of (93) Minerva, a recently discovered triple-
minor-planet system (see IAUC 9069), that were collected with the 10-m Keck
II telescope, its adaptive-optics system, and its near-infrared camera (NIRC2).
Astrometric positions of the two satellites collected by several groups led by
Marchis on Aug. 16.068 UT (IAUC 9069), by J. Melbourne (California Institute of
California) on Sept. 6.146, by A. N. Stockton (University of Hawaii) on Sept.
12.132, by C. D. Fassnacht (University of California at Davis) on Sept. 15.133,
and by T. J. Dupuy (University of Hawaii) on Sept 28.065, allow estimation of
the parameters of the mutual orbits of the satellites.  They predicted the
positions of the primary and the satellites for stellar occultations predicted
on Oct. 21.905 (star of V = 12.8; event visible from the northern part of
Europe), on Oct. 22.569 (V = 16.1; visible from Australia), and on Oct. 25.219
(V = 14.0; visible from South America).  These observations could help to
refine the size and shape of the components of the system and are strongly
encouraged.  Details about the stellar occultations (maps, timing, and
duration) are available at website URL http://www.imcce.fr/page.php?nav=en/
ephemerides/phenomenes/occult/stellarocc.php?query=predoc.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 October 21                  (CBET 1986)              Daniel W. E. Green