
doi: 10.1086/301312
We have completed a search for candidates for occultations by Pluto and Charon over the years 2000 through 2009. Using the DE405 ephemeris and the Plu006 orbit model for Pluto and Charon, we searched for stars that lie within 10 of their respective apparent motions. The images used were CCD strip scans taken at the George R. Wallace Astrophysical Observatory, reaching a depth of 15th to 17th magnitude. As Pluto-Charon enter the Galactic plane, a dramatic increase in the number of stellar appulses will occur. We identify 486 appulses by Pluto and 479 appulses by Charon over this period, with the frequency peaking in 2007. Further astrometry will be necessary to determine which of these appulses will have minimum separations small enough (less than 034 for Pluto or 031 for Charon) to produce an occultation visible from Earth.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 17 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
