CHIRON STELLAR OCCULTATION CANDIDATES - 1996-2000

Following the successful observations of stellar occultations by 2060 Chiron's nucleus and coma, a photographic search for stellar occultati on candidates for this object has been conducted to cover the period f rom 1996 September through the end of 2000. The procedures of Bus et a l. [AJ, 107, 1814 (1994)] were used, resulting in the identification o f 47 possible candidates (designated Ch45 through Ch91 in accordance w ith the original numbering scheme). The candidate search is complete t o a limiting V magnitude of 16.0 (although several fainter objects are recorded) on films taken as part of the Palomar Asteroid and Comet Su rvey. Astrometry, photometry, and finder charts for the candidates are presented in an effort to aid in the planning for future occultation observations for 2060 Chiron, The six most promising events for observ ation an identified as Ch84, Ch74, Ch82, Ch49, Ch72, and Ch77 (in orde r of decreasing signal-to-noise ratio). (C) 1996 American Astronomical Society.