NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2007A-0312
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2007A-0312 |
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PI: Catherine Olkin, Southwest Research Institute, colkin@boulder.swri.edu
Address: Department of Space Studies, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Boulder, CO 80302, United States
CoI: Leslie A. Young, Southwest Research Institute
Title: Characterizing Pluto's Atmosphere with Observations of the March 8, 2007 Stellar Occultation
Abstract:
Three noteworthy changes have occurred since the first observation
of a stellar occultation by Pluto in 1988. The most obvious change has
been the rapid increase in Pluto's column abundance between the
occultations in 1988 and 2002, confirmed by an occultation in 2006.
There has also been a large-scale change in the vertical structure of
Pluto's atmosphere, manifested in the qualitative change in the "kink"
that was prominent in the 1988 event. Finally, the large "spikes" in
the 2006 lightcurve are not noise; they are the result of resolved
density variations in Pluto's vertical profile. These spikes are not
present in the 1988 lightcurves. All three changes are illustrated in
Figure 1, an annotated comparison of a 1988 and 2006 lightcurves. All
three changes raise significant questions that we will address through
the proposed observations of the upcoming occultation of 18 March 2007
(UT) from WIYN observatory.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2007A-0312 |
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