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Exploring the Solar System using stellar occultations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2018

Bruno Sicardy
Bruno Sicardy*
Affiliation:
LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité emails: bruno.sicardy@obspm.fr
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Abstract

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Stellar occultations by solar system objects allow kilometric accuracy, permit the detection of tenuous atmospheres (at nbar level), and the discovery of rings. The main limitation was the prediction accuracy, typically 40 mas, corresponding to about 1,000 km projected at the body. This lead to large time dedicated to astrometry, tedious logistical issues, and more often than not, mere miss of the event. The Gaia catalog, with sub-mas accuracy, hugely improves both the star positions, resulting in achievable accuracies of about 1 mas for the shadow track on Earth. This permits much more carefully planned campaigns, with success rate approaching 100%, weather permitting. Scientific perspectives are presented, e.g. central flashes caused by Plutos atmosphere revealing hazes and winds near its surface, grazing occultations showing topographic features, occultations by Chariklos rings unveiling dynamical features such as proper mode “breathing”.

Keywords

occultationsastrometrysolar system: generalplanets: ringsKuiper Belt
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 12 , Symposium S330: Astrometry and Astrophysics in the Gaia sky , April 2017 , pp. 377 - 381
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2018 

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