Milliarcsecond astrometry for the Galilean moons using stellar occultations

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates milliarcsecond astrometry of Galilean moons using stellar occultations, achieving high-precision positions that enhance orbital models and mission planning for spacecraft exploring Jupiter's system.

Contribution

It presents a successful campaign of observing stellar occultations by Galilean moons and re-analyzes past events to determine precise moon positions with milliarcsecond accuracy.

Findings

Achieved milliarcsecond level astrometry of Galilean moons.

Provided improved orbital data for moons to aid future space missions.

Validated the use of stellar occultations for high-precision planetary satellite positioning.

Abstract

A stellar occultation occurs when a Solar System object passes in front of a star for an observer. This technique allows the determination of sizes and shapes of the occulting body with kilometer precision. Also, this technique constrains the occulting body's positions, albedos, densities, etc. In the context of the Galilean moons, these events can provide their best ground-based astrometry, with uncertainties in the order of 1 mas ($\sim$ 3 km at Jupiter's distance during opposition). We organized campaigns and successfully observed a stellar occultation by Io (JI) in 2021, one by Ganymede (JIII) in 2020, and one by Europa (JII) in 2019, with stations in North and South America. Also, we re-analyzed two previously published events, one by Europa in 2016 and another by Ganymede in 2017. Then, we fit the known 3D shape of the occulting satellite and determine its center of figure. That resulted in astrometric positions with uncertainties in the milliarcsecond level. The positions obtained from these stellar occultations can be used together with dynamical models to ensure highly accurate orbits of the Galilean moons. These orbits can help plan future space probes aiming at the Jovian system, such as JUICE by ESA and Europa Clipper by NASA, and allow more efficient planning of flyby maneuvers.