This an alert for a possible stellar occultation by Pluto's small satellite NIX, that could be visible from NZ and AUS, on 22 June 2010 around 09:55 UT (night 22/23 June), see map below.

Hi All, Some of you were involved in the recent attempt to capture the June 4 occultation by Pluto. Now Bruno Sicardy has posted the following with another opportunity to capture an occultation by Nix. The chances of getting the event from any one site are slim, but with a good number of sites spread across the company the chances of success are significantly improved.

Note that the star is mag 12.5 in R and the occultation should be seen visually - assuming you have a sufficiently large scope to see the star. However a video record is preferred over a visual observation. If you don't yet have the means to convert your video record into an AVI file for analysis by Limovie or Tangra we can accommodate that so long as you can at least get a VHS tape to us.

If you intend to attempt this can you please advise John Talbot (john.talbot@xtra.co.nz) and cc: to me.

Thanks, Graham Blow

Message from Bruno Sicardy Hello all,

This an alert for a possible stellar occultation by Pluto's small satellite, that could be visible from NZ and AUS, on 22 June 2010 around 09:55 UT (night 22/23 June), see map attached.
Map >
The star is red, and is about 1 mag *brighter* than Pluto in red (R=12.5). See chart attached
FOV >
Nix is small (100 km across), and uncertainties are of the order of +/- 1000 km, so the probability is low. But payoff could be high, and the observation does not take much time Max duration about 3.6 sec , Mag drop about 0.7, at the beginning of evening, so that the dinner is not ruined...

Note that for observers with sufficiently large telescope, even a visual observation could be attempted, as the event will be sharp, with an easy nearby comparison "star", namely Pluto. Of course, video or CCD observations are better.

Best regards,

Bruno Sicardy

NB. The maps are available from my list posted online, see: Bruno's home page

For observers in Australia and NZ please send any positive or clear negative results to both Bruno bruno.sicardy@obspm.fr and CC to John Talbot john.talbot@xtra.co.nz

More events for Pluto and its moons that may be visible fin Australia and NZ shown below

Note past events have been removed.

Pluto:

http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-06-19T14h11m38s.jpg M16.6(NA only)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-06-20T11h47m54s.jpg M19.6(NA,QLD only)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-06-24T12h24m32s.jpg M20.2(NZ,Vic,SA)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-06-29T15h57m50s.jpg M17.4(WA,SA,VIC,ACT,S NSW, N NZ)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-07-15T11h17m13s.jpg M18.9(Tas, S NZ)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-08-04T15h24m16s.jpg M17.5(SA,VIC,ACT,NSW, NZ low)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Pluto_2010/Pluto_2010-10-14T08h48m50s.jpg M17.8(NZ)

Charon:
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Charon_2010/Charon_2010-06-24T12h14m10s.jpg (NA, N QLD)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Charon_2010/Charon_2010-07-09T16h25m22s.jpg (Tas, NZ low)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Charon_2010/Charon_2010-08-04T15h37m00s.jpg (WA,NA,QLD)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Charon_2010/Charon_2010-10-18T11h50m09s.jpg (WA- NSW,QLD low)

Nix:
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Nix_2010/Nix_2010-06-22T09h51m08s.jpg (QLD low) (see above)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Nix_2010/Nix_2010-06-27T10h14m30s.jpg (N NA low, N QLD)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Nix_2010/Nix_2010-07-26T12h47m08s.jpg (S SA,S NSW)

Hydra:
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Hydra_2010/Hydra_2010-06-17T17h29m11s.jpg ( S WA - S QLD)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Hydra_2010/Hydra_2010-06-22T17h34m45s.jpg (WA- Cent QLD)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Hydra_2010/Hydra_2010-06-23T13h06m49s.jpg (WA, SA, S NSW)
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/predic_occn_10/Hydra_2010/Hydra_2010-07-20T11h58m16s.jpg (WA- Cent QLD)

For more information:
http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/perso/bruno-sicardy/index.html

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