July 8, 2010

Pluto in Barnard 92

The large patch of mostly starless night sky in this image is Barnard 92, a cloud of gas and dust that is nearer to us than almost all the stars in that direction and blocks the starlight otherwise visible. Of course, a few stars are nearer, which is why the patch is not completely devoid of stars. Also, the patch lies beyond our solar system. This image is proof of that fact, because it shows Pluto passing in front of the cloud!
The planet (or whatever Pluto is now considered) is marked. How do I know that is Pluto? Well, compare the image with this one I took two years ago of the same patch of sky. See that otherwise starlike object where it now is? I thought not. Nope, that's Pluto alright, just where Sky & Telescope predicted it would be.
The APOD for July 8, 2010, has a similar image of Pluto cruising in front of Barnard 92. It can be seen here. The APOD image was taken at about the same time as mine.

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