|
Last
update : June 17, 2009 |
|
Paris
Observatory. - We report an attempted observation of an
occultation of relatively bright star 2UCAC 25152757 = 2MASS 180933.8-173812, V=12.5, R=11 by Pluto's small satellite
Nix on June 5 2009 at 16:35-16:45 UT. The star was at high elevation in
Australia and New Zealand (morning of June 6), and low elevation (21.5 deg)
in La Reunion island (evening of June 5). As Nix is expected to be about 100 km in
diameter, star position uncertainty translates into an error band of
typically +/- 500 km on Earth. Predicted time for geocentric closest approach
C/A = 0.124 arcsec was 16:39 UT (larger dot near center). This recently updated
prediction was derived from a reanalysis of the star position by the Rio
group, with an updated ephemeris offset for Pluto of -0.0528 arcsec in RA and
0.1468 arcsec in DEC. In both Australia and New Zealand. 27
stations attempted to observe an occultation of Nix, 17 observed definite
misses, 5 were clouded out, and 5 suffered other problems that prevented an
observation.
Chords : all observers (left), confirmed
missed (right) (click to enlarge)
Stations : Australia (left), New Zealand
(right) (click to enlarge) A
throughout report also available at the RASNZ Occsec site at http://occsec.wellington.net.nz/planet/2009/results/20090605_Nix_Rep.htm Next regional
event : Pluto, August 23, 2009. See Bruno Sicardy's prediction
or click on map below.
Thomas
Widemann, Bruno Sicardy, John Talbot Updated
June 17, 2009 |
