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Occultation

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Small Kuiper Belt Object Displays a Fragile Atmosphere, Defying Expectations
science21 days ago

Small Kuiper Belt Object Displays a Fragile Atmosphere, Defying Expectations

Astronomers using a 2024 stellar occultation detected signs of a thin, possibly temporary atmosphere around the tiny Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93 (about 500 km across), challenging assumptions that such small bodies can hold an atmosphere. Any atmosphere would likely last under 1,000 years without replenishment, and no frozen surface gases were found by JWST to fuel it. Two scenarios are proposed: recent internal gas release or a comet impact. If confirmed, this would be the first atmosphere detected on a trans-Neptunian object other than Pluto, prompting further observations to understand the mechanism.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|
#2002-xv93#atmosphere#kuiper-belt
Sunlit occultation: Moon briefly veils Venus in daylight on June 17
space24 days ago

Sunlit occultation: Moon briefly veils Venus in daylight on June 17

On June 17, a rare daytime occultation will have a thin crescent Moon pass in front of Venus across parts of North America in the mid‑afternoon; observers can use binoculars or a telescope but must avoid looking near the Sun, while the Moon serves as a guide to spot Venus (magnitude -4.0) in daylight; the event runs roughly 3:30–5:00 PM EDT, followed by evening views near the Beehive Cluster after sunset.

via Space|
#daytime-sky#moon#occultation
Daylight Moon Occults Venus in Rare 2026 Sky Show
science25 days ago

Daylight Moon Occults Venus in Rare 2026 Sky Show

On June 17, 2026, the Moon will occult Venus in broad daylight for about 29 seconds, centered around 16:40 EDT, visible from northeastern South America, the Caribbean, the CONUS, northern Mexico and southern Canada before sunset; Venus will be about 38 degrees from the Sun and around magnitude -4, while the Moon is an 11 percent crescent. This is the first of three Venus occultations in 2026 (Sept 14 and Nov 7 are the others), with Mercury near greatest elongation the day before. Plan with IOTA timings or Stellarium to target local times and try daytime video capture, noting autofocus can be tricky.

via ScienceAlert|
#mercury#moon#occultation
Tiny Kuiper World Reveals Thin Atmosphere, Second of Its Kind
science2 months ago

Tiny Kuiper World Reveals Thin Atmosphere, Second of Its Kind

Astronomers observed the small Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93 (about 311 miles across) during a stellar occultation and found a very thin atmosphere, making it only the second TNO known to have one after Pluto. The atmosphere, five to ten million times thinner than Earth's, could result from cryovolcanic activity or a recent icy impact; its persistence or dissipation could help distinguish between these sources. Future James Webb Space Telescope observations may detect additional gases like methane or carbon monoxide.

via Futurism|
#atmosphere#cryovolcanism#kuiper-belt
Tiny Kuiper Belt World Grows a Mysterious, Vanishingly Thin Atmosphere
space2 months ago

Tiny Kuiper Belt World Grows a Mysterious, Vanishingly Thin Atmosphere

A diminutive trans-Neptunian object known as (612533) 2002 XV93 (a ~500 km Pluto-like body in Neptune’s 2:3 resonance) has unexpectedly developed a thin atmosphere (exosphere). Its presence was inferred from a January 2024 stellar occultation observed by a Japan-led team; the exosphere is extremely tenuous, with surface pressures of 100–200 nanobars—5 to 10 million times thinner than Earth’s. The atmosphere could originate from a recent impact or from cryovolcanic outgassing, but either way it challenges the idea that only large bodies can sustain atmospheres. If it’s impact-driven, the gas would escape within ~1,000 years; if outgassing, the source is ongoing beneath the surface. JWST observations and density monitoring in coming years should help pinpoint the cause. The discovery was published May 4 in Nature Astronomy.

via Space|
#atmosphere#cryovolcanism#kuiper-belt
Tiny Kuiper Object Wears a Breath: Atmosphere Detected on a 500-km Plutino
space2 months ago

Tiny Kuiper Object Wears a Breath: Atmosphere Detected on a 500-km Plutino

Astronomers detected a surprisingly thin atmosphere around 2002 XV93, a ~500-km plutino in the Kuiper belt, via a 2024 stellar occultation observed from Japan. The inferred atmosphere is about 100–200 nanobars—extremely tenuous and likely transient—suggesting replenishment from a recent impact or ongoing cryovolcanism. This challenges the notion that atmospheres only form on large bodies and shows that small distant objects can host detectable atmospheres, with the research published in Nature Astronomy.

via ScienceAlert|
#2002-xv93#atmosphere#occultation
Moon to occult the Pleiades in a live telescope stream on April 19
space2 months ago

Moon to occult the Pleiades in a live telescope stream on April 19

Space.com reports a 2:00 PM EDT (1800 GMT) livestream from The Virtual Telescope Project showing the waxing crescent Moon occulting the Pleiades (the Seven Sisters, Messier 45) on April 19; US viewers get a daytime occultation while Italian viewers can watch after sunset, with Earthshine illuminating the Moon’s dark edge as the pair pass about 445 light-years away.

via Space|
#astronomy#livestream#moon
Hidden companion binds a vast cloud of vaporized metals around a distant star
astronomy5 months ago

Hidden companion binds a vast cloud of vaporized metals around a distant star

Astronomers observed a sun-like star, J0705+0612, being occulted by a colossal 120‑million‑mile‑wide cloud of metal-rich gas and dust for about nine months. Using high‑resolution spectroscopy from Gemini South (GHOST) and other telescopes, they mapped the cloud’s three‑dimensional motions and chemical makeup (iron, calcium), finding it is bound to another object heavy enough to exert gravity—likely a massive planet or a low‑mass star. The team proposes the cloud formed from a collision between two orbiting bodies, creating a circumplanetary or circumsecondary disk. The discovery, published in The Astronomical Journal, offers a rare glimpse into dynamic, late‑stage planetary systems and how such large structures can persist in a system thought to be ~2 billion years old.

via Space|
#astronomy#circumplanetary-disk#circumsecondary-disk
Quaoar Dwarf Planet May Have an Additional Moon, Astronomers Find
science10 months ago

Quaoar Dwarf Planet May Have an Additional Moon, Astronomers Find

Astronomers may have discovered a new moon or a third ring around the dwarf planet Quaoar through occultation observations, with further confirmation needed. The findings suggest complex features in Quaoar's system, including potential new satellites or rings, and highlight the challenges of observing distant celestial bodies. The discovery was made during a carefully planned observation involving amateur and professional astronomers, emphasizing the importance of occultation studies in understanding the outer solar system.

via Space|
#astronomy#moon#occultation