Senegal chosen by NASA for the observation of the occultation by the asteroid MU69

After successfully launching the New Horizons spacecraft in 2006, which visited Pluto in 2015, NASA decided to continue the mission beyond its orbit and it is expected that the spacecraft will encounter the 1st January 2019, the asteroid MU69, 6 billion Kilometers from Earth.

During the summer of 2017, several telescopes around the world took advantage of the passage of the asteroid in front of a star (occultation) to learn a little more about it. The observations suggest that the celestial body has a bilobed shape and could even have a moon.

On the night of August 3 to 4, 2018, this object will pass again in front of a star, thus causing an occultation. From Earth, there will be favorable areas for his study. The optimal observation zone crosses Senegal and Colombia. After several simulations, NASA has chosen to deploy in our country to do this important work that will deepen the knowledge of the object and better prepare the arrival of the probe to its target in 2019.

Sound Excellency Mr. MackySall, President of the Republic of Senegal has approved this mission and entrusted the organization and coordination of this activity in Senegal to the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The various observation sites determined scientifically are in the regions of Thiès, Diourbel, Louga and Saint-Louis.

NASA's observer teams will work in close collaboration with Senegalese scientists from Senegalese universities, the Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Astronomy and some research organizations such as ISRA, CSE, ANACIM, ANAT, etc.

The observation of the occultation, passage of the asteroid in front of a star, will be a strong moment of exchanges on the research in astronomy between the Senegalese scientists and the international experts mobilized within the framework of the mission. It will also be a rare moment of popularization of science, especially astronomy for the general public.