Size, density, albedo and atmosphere limit of dwarf planet Eris from a stellar occultation

[en] We report the observation of a multi-chord stellar occultation by the dwarf planet (136199) Eris. The event was observed on November 6, 2010 UT, from two sites in Chile. Our observation is consistent with a spherical Eris with radius RE=1163±6 km, density =2.52±0.05 g cm-3, and visible geometric albedo pV=0.96+0.09 -0.04. Besides being remarkably similar in size to Pluto, Eris appears as one of the intrinsically brightest objects of the solar system, with a density suggesting a mainly rocky interior. Upper limits of about 1 nbar are derived for the surface pressure of possible nitrogen, argon or methane atmospheres of the dwarf planet.

Disciplines :

Space science, astronomy & astrophysics

Author, co-author :

Sicardy, B.; Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, Spain

Ortiz, J. L.; Observatorio do Valongo / UFRJ, Brazil

Assafin, M.; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image

Jehin, Emmanuel ; San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations, Chile

Maury, A.; Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon Cédex, France (bruno.sicardy@obspm.fr)

Lellouch, Emmanuel; Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito and San Juan National University, Argentina

Gil-Hutton, R.; Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon Cédex, France ; Observatorio Nacional / MCT, Brazil

Braga-Ribas, F.; Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon Cédex, France)

Colas, F.; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image

Lecacheux, J.; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)

More authors (10 more)

Language :

English

Title :

Size, density, albedo and atmosphere limit of dwarf planet Eris from a stellar occultation

Publication date :

01 October 2011

Event name :

EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011

Event date :

held 2-7 October 2011

Audience :

International

Journal title :

EPSC Abstracts

Pages :

137

Additional URL :

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011epsc.conf..137S

Available on ORBi :

since 12 January 2012

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