Pluto 2008OPPOSITION : 21 Jun 2008 CONJUNCTION : 22 Dec 2008 CONSTELLATION: SAGITTARIUS |
****************************************************** OPPOSITION : 23 Jun 2009 CONJUNCTION : 25 Dec 2009 CONSTELLATION: SAGITTARIUS ****************************************************** Date RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dist Elong Con 0hUT hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U. o ****************************************************** 10 Jan 18 06.6 -17 45 14.1 0.10 -41 35.73 019 Sgr 24 Jan 18 08.6 -17 45 14.1 0.10 -41 35.63 033 Sgr 07 Feb 18 10.3 -17 44 14.1 0.10 -42 35.47 046 Sgr 21 Feb 18 11.8 -17 43 14.1 0.10 -42 35.27 060 Sgr 07 Mar 18 12.9 -17 42 14.1 0.10 -42 35.04 074 Sgr 21 Mar 18 13.5 -17 40 14.1 0.10 -42 34.79 087 Sgr 04 Apr 18 13.8 -17 39 14.1 0.11 -43 34.53 101 Sgr 18 Apr 18 13.6 -17 38 14.0 0.11 -42 34.29 115 Sgr 02 May 18 13.0 -17 38 14.0 0.11 -42 34.08 128 Sgr 16 May 18 12.0 -17 37 14.0 0.11 -42 33.90 142 Sgr 30 May 18 10.8 -17 38 14.0 0.11 -42 33.77 155 Sgr 13 Jun 18 09.4 -17 39 13.9 0.11 -42 33.70 168 Sgr 27 Jun 18 07.9 -17 40 13.9 0.11 -41 33.70 173 Sgr 11 Jul 18 06.4 -17 43 14.0 0.11 -41 33.75 162 Sgr 25 Jul 18 05.1 -17 45 14.0 0.11 -41 33.86 149 Sgr 08 Aug 18 04.0 -17 48 14.0 0.11 -40 34.03 135 Sgr 22 Aug 18 03.2 -17 52 14.0 0.11 -40 34.24 122 Sgr 05 Sep 18 02.8 -17 56 14.1 0.11 -40 34.49 108 Sgr 19 Sep 18 02.8 -18 00 14.1 0.10 -40 34.75 094 Sgr 03 Oct 18 03.3 -18 03 14.1 0.10 -40 35.02 081 Sgr 17 Oct 18 04.1 -18 07 14.1 0.10 -40 35.28 067 Sgr 31 Oct 18 05.4 -18 10 14.1 0.10 -41 35.51 054 Sgr 14 Nov 18 07.0 -18 13 14.1 0.10 -41 35.71 040 Sgr 28 Nov 18 08.8 -18 15 14.1 0.10 -41 35.86 027 Sgr 12 Dec 18 10.8 -18 17 14.1 0.10 -42 35.95 013 Sgr 26 Dec 18 13.0 -18 18 14.1 0.10 -42 35.99 005 Sgr ******************************************************
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OPPOSITION : 26 Jun 2010
CONJUNCTION : 27 Dec 2010
CONSTELLATION: SAGITTARIUS
******************************************************
Date RA Dec. Vis Diam Tilt Dist Elong Con
0hUT hh mm.m o ′ mag ″ o A.U. o
******************************************************
09 Jan 18 15.1 -18 18 14.1 0.10 -42 35.96 016 Sgr
23 Jan 18 17.1 -18 18 14.1 0.10 -43 35.87 029 Sgr
06 Feb 18 18.9 -18 17 14.1 0.10 -43 35.72 043 Sgr
20 Feb 18 20.4 -18 16 14.1 0.10 -44 35.53 057 Sgr
06 Mar 18 21.6 -18 15 14.1 0.10 -44 35.30 070 Sgr
20 Mar 18 22.4 -18 14 14.1 0.10 -44 35.06 084 Sgr
03 Apr 18 22.7 -18 12 14.1 0.10 -44 34.80 098 Sgr
17 Apr 18 22.6 -18 12 14.1 0.11 -44 34.56 111 Sgr
01 May 18 22.1 -18 11 14.0 0.11 -44 34.33 125 Sgr
15 May 18 21.3 -18 11 14.0 0.11 -44 34.15 139 Sgr
29 May 18 20.1 -18 12 14.0 0.11 -43 34.01 152 Sgr
12 Jun 18 18.7 -18 13 14.0 0.11 -43 33.92 166 Sgr
26 Jun 18 17.2 -18 15 14.0 0.11 -43 33.90 175 Sgr
10 Jul 18 15.7 -18 18 14.0 0.11 -43 33.94 165 Sgr
24 Jul 18 14.4 -18 20 14.0 0.11 -42 34.04 152 Sgr
07 Aug 18 13.2 -18 23 14.0 0.11 -42 34.20 138 Sgr
21 Aug 18 12.3 -18 27 14.1 0.11 -42 34.40 125 Sgr
04 Sep 18 11.8 -18 30 14.1 0.11 -42 34.64 111 Sgr
18 Sep 18 11.7 -18 34 14.1 0.10 -42 34.90 098 Sgr
02 Oct 18 12.1 -18 37 14.1 0.10 -42 35.17 084 Sgr
16 Oct 18 12.8 -18 41 14.1 0.10 -42 35.43 071 Sgr
30 Oct 18 14.0 -18 44 14.1 0.10 -42 35.67 057 Sgr
13 Nov 18 15.5 -18 46 14.1 0.10 -42 35.88 043 Sgr
27 Nov 18 17.3 -18 48 14.1 0.10 -43 36.04 030 Sgr
11 Dec 18 19.3 -18 49 14.1 0.10 -43 36.15 016 Sgr
25 Dec 18 21.4 -18 50 14.1 0.10 -43 36.20 005 Sgr
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- 2011 -
******************************************************
08 Jan 18 23.5 -18 50 14.1 0.10 -44 36.18 013 Sgr
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**************************************** Opposition Conjunction Nearest Approach dd mon year dd mon year dd mon year **************************************** 14 Jun 2005 | 16 Dec 2005 | 12 Jun 2005 17 Jun 2006 | 19 Dec 2006 | 15 Jun 2006 19 Jun 2007 | 21 Dec 2007 | 17 Jun 2007 21 Jun 2008 | 22 Dec 2008 | 19 Jun 2008 23 Jun 2009 | 25 Dec 2009 | 21 Jun 2009 26 Jun 2010 | 27 Dec 2010 | 24 Jun 2010 ****************************************
Telescopic observers can identify the planet in Serpens, very close to the intersecting borders of Serpens, Sagittarius and Ophiuchus - being well positioned nearly overhead for most southern observers. However finding Pluto is quite difficult because it appears as a faint 14th magnitude star that is currently placed within the light Milky Way. Due to this placement Pluto is probably best found using some suitable field chart - being best seen roughly from mid-2006 to mid-2020 between March and August.
In 2005 Pluto can be quickly found as long as you have a
finder chart and identify the yellow 3.5 magnitude star
ξ Ser / Xi Serpentis. During
2005, Pluto is roughly west of the star, whose looped
motion by the end of 2005, places the planet about
28′S of the ξ Ser.
During August 2005, Pluto will be at its furthest distance
from ξ Ser, being some
2.8oW.
Pluto can now be found for most of the year in the non-zodical constellation of Serpens, but by 23rd September it will pass into Ophiuchus and on the 3rd December into Sagittarius - a very rare constellation transition for such a slow moving planet so close to the three intersecting borders. Still positioned well for all southern observers, Pluto is probably best seen during mid-2006 between March and August close to opposition. The eastern stationary point occurs on the 29th March, while the western stationary point is 04th September.
Locating it is still difficult because of its Pluto’s current placement within the Milky Way, made more difficult from the maximum 13.9v magnitude. Pluto can be best found telescopically using a suitable field chart or observing the same location again one or two nights later to see some movement. Perhaps the best time for positive identification is on Jul 17 or 18, when 13.9 magnitude Pluto can be found some 21.5 arcmin south of the 3.5 magnitude ξ Ser / Xi Sepentis. This again happens on October 19, but instead is 50 arcmin south of ξ Ser.
Four close approaches ideal for identification will occur during June and August 2006.
(1) 07th June 05h UT (07th June 17h AEST),
when Pluto passes some 58 arcsec south of a bluish 11.1
magnitude star.
(2) 08th June 22h UT (09th June 08h AEST),
Pluto will be 1.5 arcmin south of a yellow 10.4v
magnitude.
(3) 16th June 10h UT (16th June 22h AEST)
the 10.6 star, T2-6248221 1, passing 30 arcsec north of the
planet. This latter close stellar encounter is very ideally
placed for Australia and south-east Asia observers, being
fairly close to the meridian at the tiime of
observation.
(4) 09th August 10h UT (08th Aug 12h AEST) This is one of the closest stellar approaches in 2006. Here Pluto is merely 2.1 arcsec from the yellowish 10.2v magnitude star, HD 159547.
The user applying this data for any purpose forgoes any liability against the author. None of the information should be used for regarding either legal or medical purposes. Although the data is accurate as possible some errors might be present. The onus of its use is placed solely with the user.
