[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
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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
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
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