Charon's size and an upper limit on its atmosphere from a stellar occultation

B. Sicardy (), A. Bellucci, E. Gendron, F. Lacombe, S. Lacour, J. Lecacheux, E. Lellouch, S. Renner, S. Pau, F. Roques, T. Widemann, F. Colas, F. Vachier, R. Vieira Martins, N. Ageorges, O. Hainaut, O. Marco, W. Beisker, E. Hummel, C. Feinstein, H. Levato, A. Maury, E. Frappa, B. Gaillard, M. Lavayssière, M. Di Sora, F. Mallia, G. Masi, R. Behrend, F. Carrier, O. Mousis, P. Rousselot, A. Alvarez-Candal, D. Lazzaro, C. Veiga, A. H. Andrei, M. Assafin, D. N. da Silva Neto, C. Jacques, E. Pimentel, D. Weaver, J.-F. Lecampion, F. Doncel, T. Momiyama and G. Tancredi
Additional contact information
B. Sicardy: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
A. Bellucci: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
E. Gendron: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
F. Lacombe: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
S. Lacour: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
J. Lecacheux: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
E. Lellouch: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
S. Renner: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
S. Pau: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
F. Roques: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
T. Widemann: Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
F. Colas: Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE
F. Vachier: Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE
R. Vieira Martins: Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE
N. Ageorges: Alonso de Córdova 3107
O. Hainaut: Alonso de Córdova 3107
O. Marco: Alonso de Córdova 3107
W. Beisker: International Occultation Timing Association, European Section
E. Hummel: International Occultation Timing Association, European Section
C. Feinstein: Observatorio Astronómico & Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata, CONICET
H. Levato: Complejo Astronómico, El Leoncito
A. Maury: Gene Shoemaker Observatory
E. Frappa: Planétarium de Saint-Etienne
B. Gaillard: Association des Utilisateurs de Détecteurs Electroniques (AUDE), France
M. Lavayssière: Association des Utilisateurs de Détecteurs Electroniques (AUDE), France
M. Di Sora: Campo Catino Austral Observatory
F. Mallia: Campo Catino Austral Observatory
G. Masi: Campo Catino Austral Observatory
R. Behrend: Observatoire de Genève
F. Carrier: Observatoire de Genève
O. Mousis: Observatoire de Besançon
P. Rousselot: Observatoire de Besançon
A. Alvarez-Candal: Observatório Nacional
D. Lazzaro: Observatório Nacional
C. Veiga: Observatório Nacional
A. H. Andrei: Observatório Nacional
M. Assafin: Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ
D. N. da Silva Neto: Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ
C. Jacques: Observatório CEAMIG-REA
E. Pimentel: Observatório CEAMIG-REA
D. Weaver: Universidade de Fortaleza
J.-F. Lecampion: Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers
F. Doncel: Universidad Nacional de Asunción
T. Momiyama: Universidad Nacional de Asunción
G. Tancredi: Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos, Facultad de Ciencias

Nature, 2006, vol. 439, issue 7072, 52-54

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/nature04351

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