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Pluto‐Charon mutual events
Author(s) -
Binzel Richard P.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl016i011p01205
Subject(s) - pluto , occultation , albedo (alchemy) , transit (satellite) , astrobiology , satellite , physics , astronomy , atmosphere (unit) , geometric albedo , geology , geodesy , environmental science , meteorology , photometry (optics) , history , public transport , performance art , political science , law , art history , stars
Since 1985, planetary astronomers have been working to take advantage of a once‐per‐century apparent alignment between Pluto and its satellite, Charon, which has allowed mutual occultation and transit events to be observed. These events, which will cease in 1990, have permitted the first precise determinations of their individual radii, densities, and surface compositions. In addition, information on their surface albedo distributions can be obtained.