Charon's radius and atmospheric constraints from observations of a stellar occultation

A. A. S. Gulbis (), J. L. Elliot, M. J. Person, E. R. Adams, B. A. Babcock, M. Emilio, J. W. Gangestad, S. D. Kern, E. A. Kramer, D. J. Osip, J. M. Pasachoff, S. P. Souza and T. Tuvikene
Additional contact information
A. A. S. Gulbis: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
J. L. Elliot: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
M. J. Person: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
E. R. Adams: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
B. A. Babcock: Physics Department
M. Emilio: Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa
J. W. Gangestad: Williams College
S. D. Kern: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
E. A. Kramer: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
D. J. Osip: Carnegie Observatories
J. M. Pasachoff: Williams College
S. P. Souza: Williams College
T. Tuvikene: Universidad Católica del Norte

Nature, 2006, vol. 439, issue 7072, 48-51

Abstract: Charon among the stars Stellar occultations, when a Solar System object passes between us and a star and blocks its light, are eagerly awaited by astronomers as they provide a chance to make measurements that are not normally possible. It had been 25 years since a solitary observation of a stellar occultation by Pluto's moon Charon. But on 11 July 2005 another occurred and this time observatories across South America were ideally placed to track it. The resulting haul of data has been used to obtain an accurate measure of Charon's radius, of close to 605 km, and to establish an upper limit (a rather low one) on the density of its atmosphere. Visit tinyurl.com/9c56s for a QuickTime movie of the event.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04276

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