A NASA-funded team of scientists and astronomers will descend on Katherine next week to witness the “once in a lifetime” astronomical event of Pluto’s stellar occultation, with the best place in the world to see it right north of the city. .
A stellar occultation, similar to a solar eclipse, in this case will occur when Pluto passes in front of a distant start casting its shadow on Earth on June 1. The center of Pluto’s shadow will be located north of Katherine once the Earth, Pluto, and an alignment of distant stars.
CDU students will also attend to witness the first time NASA telescopes are being installed in Australia, which the university said would be a valuable learning opportunity for the entire community.
A community workshop and seminar is scheduled at CDU’s Katherine Rural Campus on May 29 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., while astronomers prepare telescopes for the event. The public is welcome to participate and observe the stars and planets with NASA telescopes.
CDU STEM Pathways professor Dr. Carla Eisemberg said astronomical observation is exciting for everyone.
“It’s great that NASA is getting involved with our CDU students and the community,” he said. “His research is fascinating and will help inspire territorials interested in technology and science careers.”
The observation will provide astronomers with vital data on the structure and state of Pluto’s atmosphere, seven years after NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft visited Pluto in July 2015.
Pluto’s atmosphere and surface have changed since then during its 248-year orbit around the Sun. The event will help scientists identify recent changes.
Unlike other planets in the solar system, Pluto’s orbital trajectory around the Sun is inclined. The path is more shaped like an ellipse than a circle, making Pluto a dynamic planet.
U.S. observer teams are carrying more than 12 portable telescopes that will be set up between Darwin and southern Katherine to watch Pluto pass in front of the distant star.
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