JWST observations of stellar occultations by solar system bodies and rings

TL;DR

This paper explores how JWST can advance the study of solar system bodies through stellar occultations, assessing its capabilities, predicting potential events, and suggesting optimization strategies.

Contribution

It evaluates JWST's potential for stellar occultation studies, identifies possible occultation events, and offers recommendations for maximizing scientific returns.

Findings

Identified several promising occultation events by minor bodies and rings.

Assessed JWST's strengths and limitations for occultation observations.

Provided strategies to optimize JWST's orbit and instrumentation for occultation science.

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the opportunities provided by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for significant scientific advances in the study of solar system bodies and rings using stellar occultations. The strengths and weaknesses of the stellar occultation technique are evaluated in light of JWST's unique capabilities. We identify several possible JWST occultation events by minor bodies and rings, and evaluate their potential scientific value. These predictions depend critically on accurate a priori knowledge of the orbit of JWST near the Sun-Earth Lagrange-point 2 (L2). We also explore the possibility of serendipitous stellar occultations by very small minor bodies as a by-product of other JWST observing programs. Finally, to optimize the potential scientific return of stellar occultation observations, we identify several characteristics of JWST's orbit and instrumentation that should be taken into account during JWST's development.