Article (Scientific journals)
Albedo and atmospheric constraints of dwarf planet Makemake from a stellar occultation
Ortiz, J. L.; Sicardy, B.; Braga-Ribas, F. et al.
2012In Nature, 491, p. 566-569
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Abstract :
[en] Pluto and Eris are icy dwarf planets with nearly identical sizes, comparable densities and similar surface compositions as revealed by spectroscopic studies. Pluto possesses an atmosphere whereas Eris does not; the difference probably arises from their differing distances from the Sun, and explains their different albedos. Makemake is another icy dwarf planet with a spectrum similar to Eris and Pluto, and is currently at a distance to the Sun intermediate between the two. Although Makemake's size (1,420+/-60km) and albedo are roughly known, there has been no constraint on its density and there were expectations that it could have a Pluto-like atmosphere. Here we report the results from a stellar occultation by Makemake on 2011 April 23. Our preferred solution that fits the occultation chords corresponds to a body with projected axes of 1,430+/-9km (1σ) and 1,502+/-45km, implying a V-band geometric albedo p[SUB]V[/SUB] = 0.77+/-0.03. This albedo is larger than that of Pluto, but smaller than that of Eris. The disappearances and reappearances of the star were abrupt, showing that Makemake has no global Pluto-like atmosphere at an upper limit of 4-12nanobar (1σ) for the surface pressure, although a localized atmosphere is possible. A density of 1.7+/-0.3gcm[SUP]-3[/SUP] is inferred from the data.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Ortiz, J. L.
Sicardy, B.;  LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 5, France
Braga-Ribas, F.;  LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France ; Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alvarez-Candal, A.;  European Southern Observatory, Alonso de Córdova 3107, Vitacura, Casilla 19001, Santiago 19, Chile ; Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain
Lellouch, Emmanuel;  LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Duffard, R.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain
Pinilla-Alonso, N.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain ; SETI Institute, 189 Bernardo Ave., Mountain View, California 94043, USA
Ivanov, V. D.;  European Southern Observatory, Alonso de Córdova 3107, Vitacura, Casilla 19001, Santiago 19, Chile
Littlefair, S. P.;  Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
Camargo, J. I. B.;  Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Assafin, M.;  Observatório do Valongo, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Unda-Sanzana, E.;  Unidad de Astronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile
Jehin, Emmanuel  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image
Morales, N.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain
Tancredi, G.;  Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos DICYT-MEC Cno. de los Molinos 5769, 12400 Montevideo, Uruguay
Gil-Hutton, R.;  Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO) and San Juan National University, Avenida España 1512 sur, J5402DSP, San Juan, Argentina
de La Cueva, I.;  Astroimagen, Abad y Sierra 58Bis, 07800 Ibiza, Spain
Colque, J. P.;  Unidad de Astronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile
da Silva Neto, D. N.;  Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Manfroid, Jean  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Thirouin, A.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain
Gutiérrez, P. J.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain
Lecacheux, J.;  LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Gillon, Michaël  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image
Maury, A.;  San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations, Casilla 21, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Colas, F.;  IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, UPMC, Univ. Lille 1, CNRS, 77 Av. Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
Licandro, J.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n 38250 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Mueller, T.;  Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstraße, 85748 Garching, Germany
Jacques, C.;  Observatório CEAMIG-REA, Rua Radialista Joao Sposito 183, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP31545-120, Brazil
Weaver, D.;  Observatório Astronômico Christus, Universidade de Fortaleza. Rua João Carvalho, 630, Aldeota, Fortaleza, Brazil
Milone, A.;  Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais/MCTI, Divisão de Astrofisica, Av. dos Astronautas 1758, São José dos Campos-SP, 12227-010, Brazil
Salvo, R.;  Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos DICYT-MEC Cno. de los Molinos 5769, 12400 Montevideo, Uruguay
Bruzzone, S.;  Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos DICYT-MEC Cno. de los Molinos 5769, 12400 Montevideo, Uruguay
Organero, F.;  Observatorio astronómico de La Hita, 45840 La Puebla de Almoradiel, Toledo, Spain
Behrend, R.;  Observatoire de Genève, CH-1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
Roland, S.;  Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos DICYT-MEC Cno. de los Molinos 5769, 12400 Montevideo, Uruguay
Vieira-Martins, R.;  Observatório do Valongo, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Widemann, T.;  LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Roques, F.;  LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Santos-Sanz, P.;  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain ; LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Univ. Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
Hestroffer, D.;  IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, UPMC, Univ. Lille 1, CNRS, 77 Av. Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
Dhillon, V. S.;  Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
Marsh, T. R.;  Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Harlingten, C.;  Caisey Harlingten Observatory, The Grange, Scarrow Beck Road, Erpingham, Norfolk NR11 7QX, UK
Bagatin, A. Campo;  Departamento de Física, Ingeniería de Sistemas y teoría de la Señal and Instituto de Física Aplicada a las Ciencias y la Tecnología, Universidad de Alicante P.O. Box 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain
Alonso, M. L.;  Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, K. U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200B, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Ortiz, M.;  Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Vicuna Mackenna 4860 7820436 Macul, Santiago, Chile
Colazo, C.;  Observatorio Astronomico el Gato Gris, S. Luis 145, Tanti, Córdoba, Argentina
Lima, H. J. F.;  IP&D, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, CEP 12244-000, São José dos Campos, Brazil
Oliveira, A. S.;  IP&D, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, CEP 12244-000, São José dos Campos, Brazil
Kerber, L. O.;  Laboratório de Astrofísica Teórica e Observacional, Departamento de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45662-00 Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, km 16, Brazil
Smiljanic, R.;  European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
Pimentel, E.;  Observatório CEAMIG-REA, Rua Radialista Joao Sposito 183, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP31545-120, Brazil
Giacchini, B.;  Observatório CEAMIG-REA, Rua Radialista Joao Sposito 183, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP31545-120, Brazil
Cacella, P.;  Rede de Astronomia Observacional, Brasilia, SMPW Q25 CJ1-10B, 71745-501, Brazil
Emilio, M.;  Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, O.A. -- DEGEO, Avenida Carlos Cavalcanti 4748, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, Brazil)
More authors (46 more) Less
Language :
English
Title :
Albedo and atmospheric constraints of dwarf planet Makemake from a stellar occultation
Publication date :
01 November 2012
Journal title :
Nature
ISSN :
0028-0836
eISSN :
1476-4687
Publisher :
Nature Publishing Group, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Volume :
491
Pages :
566-569
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
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