Occultation timings of stars by asteroids provides valuable data regarding the diameters of these objects. The more accurate the timing the precise the diameter can be obtained. These occultations can be anything from 1 second to 15 seconds The reason for the differences in timings is the different classes or families of asteroids and there varied distances. Hence the speed of the asteroid as it passes over the star.
For those interested in occultation timings they can be timed by using the second hand or digital read out on your stop watch which could show a 1/10th of a second, or you might have a GPS with timing insert to a fraction of a second.
Below is a useful tool to try out how accurate is your personal response. With practice you could end up with very accurate timings of asteroids.
What would be interesting is whether you get different results if you concentrate your vision on the right hand edge of the screen, as compared to concentrating on the sheep.
This on-line game from the UK/BBC looks to be an excellent trainer for Personal Equation. Give it a try.
www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sh...eaction_version5.swf
It not only calculates your results, but gives you a sense of statistical variance. I suspect that, if recording voice, a slightly longer time should be used.
Happy New Year!
Eamonn A
  