SOFIA Captures Pluto Occultation

TL;DR

The special flight, Flight Number 223, aims to observe the Pluto occultation to gather data on Pluto's atmosphere and particle dust haze, and potentially achieve a global view of the planet.

Transcript

This is flight number 223. A special flight. >>Ok, we're gonna take off, and Pluto is right here, we're gonna make sure we're on time straight to this point. >>Basically, we have three objectives. The first is to observe Pluto occulting a star. We should be able to get a pressure and temperature profile for Pluto's atmosphere, which is particular... Read More

Key Insights

• ✈️ Flight Number 223 aims to compare data from New Horizons with the observed occultation to calibrate previous observations of Pluto's atmosphere.
• 💁 Observing the occultation in multiple wavelengths provides valuable information about particle dust haze that would not be obtainable with a single wavelength.
• 🫵 The flight's success is crucial for understanding Pluto's atmosphere and obtaining a global view of the planet.
• 🗯️ The precision of the flight's navigation, adjusting legs like a trombone, ensured that it arrived at the right place at the right time.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the three main objectives of Flight Number 223?

The objectives are to observe Pluto occulting a star, obtain a pressure and temperature profile of Pluto's atmosphere, and study particle dust haze using multiple wavelengths.

Q: What makes the SOFIA observatory unique in observing the Pluto occultation?

SOFIA is the only observatory capable of reaching the center of the shadow, which will be located over the ocean during the South Pacific occultation.

Q: How long has the process of observing Pluto and the star been ongoing?

The process has been ongoing for about three years, with researchers constantly measuring the positions of Pluto and the star to determine the occultation's precise location.

Q: What does the "central flash" in the signal over time plot indicate?

The central flash indicates that the flight was very close to the center line of the shadow during the Pluto occultation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Flight Number 223 has three main objectives: to observe Pluto occulting a star, to obtain a pressure and temperature profile of Pluto's atmosphere, and to study particle dust haze in the atmosphere using multiple wavelengths.

• The flight is time-sensitive as it aims to catch the shadow of Pluto streaking across the Earth during the South Pacific occultation.

• MIT researchers have been meticulously observing Pluto and the star, constantly updating their positions to determine when and from where the occultation will be visible. The unique capabilities of the SOFIA observatory allow for an observation at the center of the shadow.