A stellar occultation reveals the properties of Makemake

The occultation allowed determining the size, shape and albedo of Makemake, and showed that it has no global Pluto-like atmosphere

 
Makemake planet
21/11/2012

Artistic representation of surface of exoplanet called Makemake (ESO/L. Calcada).

Reference: 

J.L.Ortiz et al., Albedo and atmospheric constraints of dwarf planet Makemake from a stellar occultation. Nature DOI 10.1038/nature11597

More info: 

Videos y animaciones:

www.iaa.es/~ortiz/Ocultacion_Makemake_V4.m2v
www.iaa.es/~ortiz/OcultacionMakemake_V4_eng.m2v
www.iaa.es/~ortiz/OcultacionMakemake_V4_eng-short.m2v
http://www.eso.org/~rhook/tmp/Makemake_occultation-anim-low.mp4

Press release: 
PDF icon notaprensamakemake.pdf