Pluto Stellar Occultation on 2008 Aug 25
Abstract
We report on a successful occultation of a star by Pluto that was observable over much of the south and western United States. The centerline was close to WIRO. We will present seven complete lightcurves from Crossley/Lick, WIRO, SBO/CU, Palomar, JPL/TMO, Sierra Stars Obs., and Magdalena Ridge Observatory. We have 2 partial lightcurves from Lowell Obs. and McDonald Obs. where data loss was caused by clouds. There were attempts at the Steward 90", George Observatory, and New Mexico Skies that were clouded out. The UCF station near Orlando was clearly an appulse. A number of other amateurs also succeeded in collecting data. Our presentation will provide a final geometric solution for the event as well as baseline fits to the atmospheric structure. This work was supported by NASA Planetary Astronomy grants NNX08AO626 and NNX08AO50G.
- Publication:
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AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- January 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009DPS....40.4805B