https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-023-01031-z
Regular Article
Stellar Occultation Simulator: application to Planet 9
PPGFA/UTFPR-Curitiba, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165, 80230-901, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
a
wellingtonferrante@gmail.com
b
fribas@utfpr.edu.br
Received:
15
May
2023
Accepted:
9
November
2023
Published online:
7
December
2023
Evidence suggests the existence of a ninth planet in the Solar System, with an orbit far beyond Neptune. This so-called “Planet 9” has not yet been directly observed, but gravitational effects can be noticed in objects known as trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), those with a semi-major axis orbital greater than that of Neptune. Some of them present a clustering in relation to the perihelion argument, and from these data, numerical simulations were performed by Brown and Batygin (Astron J 162:219, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac2056) indicating some orbital elements for Planet 9 so that, in the near future, the body may be detected. For a better understanding of the evolution and origin of the Solar System, a physical characterization of the body becomes necessary. One powerful observational technique for the study of TNOs is stellar occultation. A technique in which a body generates a shadow over the Earth as it passes in front of a background star, allowing it to determine, with kilometer accuracy, the shape, size, albedo and to sound for the existence of atmosphere, rings and satellites around the body. Thus, a code in Python was developed to simulate stellar occultation light curves by the Planet 9. The results are analyzed to understand the main parameters that influence the light curve construction so we can be better prepared for a future occultation by the body.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
