International Occultation Timing Association European Section |
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Occultations by |
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Moon |
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Asteroid |
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Planet |
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Pluto, TNOs |
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Astrometry |
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Sol.Eclipse |
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New Horizons Mission Approaching Pluto.
Occultations will help to monitor Pluto's atmosphere
The Pluto mission "New Horizons" is just a little more than 1 year away from its first destination, the Pluto system. In July next year the flyby will take place.
Therefore the upcoming occultations of bright stars by Pluto are the last chance, to monitor Pluto's atmosphere in the time before the flyby.
IOTA-ES is starting a campaign to observe the most bright occultations by Pluto in the next year.
4 Events are important occultations, the first one can be seen from large part of southern Europe. The last three ones are close after the flyby, but they are included in the campaign.
5th July 2014 15m7 Canaries, S.Europe, N. Africa, Israel, Turkey, Iran
29th June 2015 12m3 Australia, Papua Neuguinea, Reunion, Madagascar
26th July 2015 15m3 Central, Africa, Namibia, Kenia, Mozambique, Western India
26th July 2015 15m6 Central South America, New Zealand
6th Sept. 2015..15m6
N. Australia,
New
Guinea, Pacific, Hawaii
The upcoming occultation of a 15m7 star on the 5th of July 2014 is the only bright occultation by Pluto visible from large parts of Europe in this campaign. Take part in the observation!
More information about this occultation will come up soon on this website.
Preliminary Occultation Tracks
Best prediction available for the moment: (B. Sicardy, F. Riba-Bragas et.al.)
5th July 2014
29th of June 2015
26th of July 2015
26th of July 2015
6th of Sept. 2015
The occultation maps are from Bruno Sicardy's website.