Indeed, there should be an occultation with this star & Pluto's second
newly discovered moon, P2 visible from Australia. For Australia (which
is where I am) the event will actually occur on the 13th June at 0225
local. I plan to use an Astrovid 2000 TV camera coupled to a Collins
I3 image intensifier. These will be on a 20-inch f/5.6 reflector at a
friend's observatory. Should be an interesting night!
For those Aussies and Kiwis who are interested, here's the original
message:
************************MESSAGE*********************************
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 12:53 AM
Subject: Pluto's Satellite P2 occults star for Australia !!!!
To whom it may concern.....
Please excuse, if anybody on this list is already well informed from
me or other sources. I can not filter out all these people....
The Pluto system will occult the star UCAC 2603 9859 (15mag) on June
12th, 2006 around 16h 25min UTC, as first pointed out by Dave Herald
(WINOCCULT, DE405) and Jean Lecacheux in early March. A new prediction
for this important occultation has been done by Bruno Sicardy,
Observatoire d Paris/Meudon using DE413 and an improved ephemeris of
P1 and P2. The main visibility areas of the occultation by
Pluto itself will be New Zealand, Tasmania, southern Australia and
Reunion.
Even more important, following the discovery of the recently
discovered small satellites P2, an occultation of this small body will
take place about 1000km north of Pluto's occultation track.
The scientific goals of an observation of this important occultation are:
* For Pluto,
* to determine the atmospheric static conditions (Temperature,
Pressure etc.) and to compare it with data from past occultations, to
get an idea of the development of Pluto's atmosphere during the loss
of energy due to the increasing distance from the sun.
* to determine winds in Pluto's atmosphere by a possible
measurement of a central flash from Tasmania or New Zealand.
* For P2 and other possible objects as well
o to determine the diameter of P2
o to determine the mean density of P2
o to determine a possible ring system around Pluto
The results are of special interest to the New Horizons mission to
Pluto, because possible smaller bodies and/or a ring system around
Pluto may have a significant impact on the mission.
For this important event I am searching URGENTLY observers with
appropriate equipment. Even a 10 inch telescope with an integrating
video camera can be used to observe this event.
In case you are interested, please return a EMAIL to my address
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Detailed information you find at our Webpage
http://www.iota-es.de/pluto384.html
And please pass this information forward to anybody, how would be
interested and able to take part in this multinational event!
With best regards from Munich
Wolfgang Beisker
International Occultation Timing Association / European Section
Research and Development
***************************EOM************************************
--- In [email protected], "Bob Rose"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I suggest you try here. http://www.iota-es.de/pluto384.html There are
> some finder charts there. Also you could have CdC find Pluto on the
> June 12, 2006 at 16:25 UTC and the star should occupy the same spot
> in the sky.
> Bob
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