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A Pluto-like radius and a high albedo for the dwarf planet Eris from an occultation

Author

Listed:
  • B. Sicardy

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4, Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 5, France
    Institut Universitaire de France, 103, Boulevard Saint Michel, 75005 Paris, France)

  • J. L. Ortiz

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • M. Assafin

    (Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)

  • E. Jehin

    (Institut d'Astrophysique de I'Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août 17, B-4000 Liège, Belgium)

  • A. Maury

    (San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations, Casilla 21, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile)

  • E. Lellouch

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France)

  • R. Gil Hutton

    (Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO) and San Juan National University, Avenida España 1512 sur, J5402DSP, San Juan, Argentina)

  • F. Braga-Ribas

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France
    Observatório Nacional/MCT, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)

  • F. Colas

    (IMCCE-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Lille 1, 77 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France)

  • D. Hestroffer

    (IMCCE-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Lille 1, 77 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France)

  • J. Lecacheux

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France)

  • F. Roques

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France)

  • P. Santos-Sanz

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France)

  • T. Widemann

    (LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, 11, Rue Marcelin Berthelot, 92195 Meudon cedex, France)

  • N. Morales

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • R. Duffard

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • A. Thirouin

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • A. J. Castro-Tirado

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • M. Jelínek

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • P. Kubánek

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • A. Sota

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • R. Sánchez-Ramírez

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apartado 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain)

  • A. H. Andrei

    (Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    Observatório Nacional/MCT, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)

  • J. I. B. Camargo

    (Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    Observatório Nacional/MCT, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)

  • D. N. da Silva Neto

    (Observatório Nacional/MCT, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    Centro Universitário Estadual da Zona Oeste, Avenida Manual Caldeira de Alvarenga 1203, CEP, 23.070-200 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)

  • A. Ramos Gomes

    (Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)

  • R. Vieira Martins

    (Observatório do Valongo/UFRJ, Ladeira Pedro Antonio 43, CEP 20.080-090 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    Observatório Nacional/MCT, Rua General José Cristino 77, CEP 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    IMCCE-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Lille 1, 77 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France)

  • M. Gillon

    (Institut d'Astrophysique de I'Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août 17, B-4000 Liège, Belgium)

  • J. Manfroid

    (Institut d'Astrophysique de I'Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août 17, B-4000 Liège, Belgium)

  • G. P. Tozzi

    (INAF, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, I-50125 Firenze, Italy)

  • C. Harlingten

    (Caisey Harlingten Observatory, The Grange, Scarrow Beck Road, Erpingham, Norfolk NR11 7QX, UK)

  • S. Saravia

    (San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations, Casilla 21, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile)

  • R. Behrend

    (Observatoire de Genève, CH-1290 Sauverny, Switzerland)

  • S. Mottola

    (DLR – German Aerospace Center, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany)

  • E. García Melendo

    (Fundació Privada Observatori Esteve Duran, 08553 Seva, Spain
    Institut de Ciències de I'Espai (CSIC-IEEC), Facultat de Ciències, Torre C5, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • V. Peris

    (Observatori Astronòmic, Universitat de València, Calle Catedràtic José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain)

  • J. Fabregat

    (Observatori Astronòmic, Universitat de València, Calle Catedràtic José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain)

  • J. M. Madiedo

    (Universidad de Huelva, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas S/N, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

  • L. Cuesta

    (Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain)

  • M. T. Eibe

    (Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain)

  • A. Ullán

    (Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain)

  • F. Organero

    (Observatorio astronómico de La Hita)

  • S. Pastor

    (Observatorio de la Murta, 30153 Murcia, Spain)

  • J. A. de los Reyes

    (Observatorio de la Murta, 30153 Murcia, Spain)

  • S. Pedraz

    (Calar Alto Observatory, Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán, Calle Jesús Durbán Remón, 2, 04004 Almería, Spain)

  • A. Castro

    (Sociedad Malagueña de Astronomía, Centro Cultural José María Gutiérrez Romero, Calle República Argentina 9, 29016 Málaga, Spain)

  • I. de la Cueva

    (Astroimagen, Abad y Lasierra 58Bis, 07800 Ibiza, Spain)

  • G. Muler

    (Observatorio Nazaret, 35539 Nazaret, Lanzarote, Spain)

  • I. A. Steele

    (Liverpool JMU, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead CH41 1LD, UK)

  • M. Cebrián

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

  • P. Montañés-Rodríguez

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

  • A. Oscoz

    (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

  • D. Weaver

    (Observatório Astronomico Christus, Colégio Christus, Rua João Carvalho 630, Aldeota, CEP 60140140, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil)

  • C. Jacques

    (Observatório CEAMIG-REA, CEP31545-120, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

  • W. J. B. Corradi

    (Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

  • F. P. Santos

    (Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

  • W. Reis

    (Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

  • A. Milone

    (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE-MCT), Avenida dos Astronautas, 1758, São José dos Campos, 12227-010, SP, Brazil)

  • M. Emilio

    (Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, O.A. – DEGEO, Avenida Carlos Cavalcanti 4748, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil)

  • L. Gutiérrez

    (Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, km 103, 22860 Ensenada, BC, Mexico)

  • R. Vázquez

    (Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, km 103, 22860 Ensenada, BC, Mexico)

  • H. Hernández-Toledo

    (Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-264, 04510 México DF, Mexico)

Abstract

Pluto's twin is out in the cold Four trans-Neptunian objects are currently recognized as dwarf planets: Eris, Haumea, Makemake and Pluto. Of these, the 'demoted' planet Pluto has been studied for many years and has a detected atmosphere. The others are difficult to observe because of their extreme distance from the Sun, but a stellar occultation event on 6 November 2010 provided an opportunity for a closer look at Eris. The data obtained reveal Eris as a 'twin' for Pluto in terms of size, and previous work showed the two to have similar surface compositions. Eris, however, has no detectable atmosphere and its surface is bright, possibly a result of atmospheric collapse in an extremely cold environment.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Sicardy & J. L. Ortiz & M. Assafin & E. Jehin & A. Maury & E. Lellouch & R. Gil Hutton & F. Braga-Ribas & F. Colas & D. Hestroffer & J. Lecacheux & F. Roques & P. Santos-Sanz & T. Widemann & N. Mor, 2011. "A Pluto-like radius and a high albedo for the dwarf planet Eris from an occultation," Nature, Nature, vol. 478(7370), pages 493-496, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:478:y:2011:i:7370:d:10.1038_nature10550
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10550
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