From: Bruno Sicardy Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 11:45 AM Subject: Occultations in Australia & New Zealand/2009

Dear colleagues,

We have been searching for stellar occultation by Pluto, its satellites (Charon, Nix & Hydra) and big Trans-Neptunians-Objects (TNO's) visible from AUS and NZ in 2009 (with some events involving *also* S. Africa and Namibia).

Some of them are reachable by amateurs. In order of decreasing priorities, I found:

(4) The only event found involving Eris

Eris 14 November 2009, 15:25 UT.

Faint star (R~17, K=15.3, so maybe I is not so bad), but requiring *large* telescopes anyway.

Remember that Eris has a satellite that could also yield an event.

It will be full night in AUS and object will be high in the sky, NZ will be in morning twilight with object low above horizon.

(5) Here is an event involving another large TNO

2002TX300 09 Oct 2009, 10:28 UT.

Reasonably bright star (V=13.2, R=12.9), reachable by amateurs.

Nominal centrality over NZ, but low above horizon (eg 14.5 deg at Mt John). Could also involve Tasmania and W AUS coast, but with similar or even *lower* elevations.

Note that orbit is not SO WELL KNOWN as for Pluto, so that astrometric updates might end up with an event in N. Australia, Hawaii, central America, USA or even Canada. 12-Sep-2009 update here

TO BE WATCHED UPON

(6) Another event involving 2002TX300:

2002TX300 29 Sept 2009, 12:34 UT.

Centrality would go over W. USA, northern Pacific and Philipins. As above, uncertainties are such that Hawaii, AUS and NZ might be involved, although lowish above horizon for the two latter countries.

BUT the star is faint, V=18, R~17.4, K=15.3, so *large* telescopes are required.

Cheers,
Bruno Sicardy ---

NB. The maps are available from my list posted online, see:

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