Title of programme: Stellar Occultation by Minor Bodies in our Solar System with CHEOPS
Abstract: Stellar Occultation is one of the leading techniques in accessing important physical characteristics of solar system bodies. With it, we were able to discover rings around the Centaur Chariklo and the TNO Haumea, detect sub-km TNOs and drastic variations of Plutos atmospheric pressure. The knowledge of such characteristics has been important in understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system. Since the technique translates photometric resolution into astrometric resolution, a better photometric condition will provide improved constraints in the determination of the body’s physical characteristics. As a natural step forward, observing stellar occultation by spacecraft will provide better photometric circumstances avoiding the noise caused by atmospheric fluctuations. With CHEOPS, five interesting stellar occultations have considerable chances of being observed, involving the Neptunian satellite Triton, where we can further study its atmosphere, the TNO Quaoar and Centaur Chiron, where we can improve the knowledge about the presence of rings, and the TNO 2002MS4, where we can explore its environment. Note: We do not use the CHEOPS Exposure Time Calculator for this science case because we need the highest time resolution possible in imagette mode.
Temporal Coverage
2022-10-06T13:30:51Z / 2022-10-06T15:10:00Z
Version
3.0
Mission Description
CHEOPS (Benz et al., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-020-09679-4) is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission in partnership with Switzerland with important contributions to the payload and the ground segment from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The satellite has a single payload comprising an ultra-high precision photometer covering the 330 - 1100 nm wavelength range in a single photometric band. Observations are made as part of the Guaranteed Time Observing Programme that is formulated by the CHEOPS Science Team, and the Guest Observers Programme through which the Community at large can apply for CHEOPS time.
