# Summary of K2 Program GO7012

Title: The Lightcurve of Pluto Post New Horizons

PI: Benecchi, Susan (Planetary Science Institute)
CoIs: Schwamb, Megan E; Binzel, Richard P.; Lisse, Carey M.

Discovered in 1930, Pluto is a unique dwarf planet that has challenged and inspired the minds of many. It is a key object in the third zone out from our Sun and provides important insight to formation and collisional processes that were at work in the original solar nebula. In July 2015 the New Horizons spacecraft (a NASA mission) will encounter this small, dark, icy world and the family of objects that orbit it providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to directly link our Earth-based view of Pluto with ground truth provided by in situ measurements. However, this encounter will be short-lived compared to other planetary voyages because it is unfeasible to slow the spacecraft down to orbit within the Pluto system; instead this visit will be a flyby. Studies from Earth-based or Earth-orbit facilities prior to and post encounter will provide critical baseline and context information for optimal interpretation of the valuable flyby science data. 

Pluto is known to be a constantly changing world due to the solar energy being received decreasing by ~2% per year on account of its eccentric orbit now carrying it rapidly away from perihelion.  Whats more, the orientation of Pluto's spin axis and the sub-solar latitude (the height of the "midday Sun") changes by more than 1 degree per Earth year, bringing 100,000 square kilometers of new surface area into sunlight for the first time in a century (while casting an equal and opposite polar area into a century long arctic winter). These orbit-related effects on the atmosphere and surface of Pluto are on top of the well-known longitudinal variations measurable over the course Plutos 6.387 day rotation. Observations of Pluto one year prior-to and post-flyby will allow us to identify evolving trends in the system which could be missed if we focused on only the flyby dataset. Our ultimate goal is to better understand Pluto, its family of satellites and their evolution since formation. 

We propose to observe the Pluto system, which is on silicon in the selected Campaign 7 K2 field. These observations will take place after New Horizons has completed its flyby and will provide a key baseline of photometric observations that are not available from ground-based observatories because of Pluto's position relative to Sun during the timeframe of this campaign (Oct-Dec 2015).  Pluto is relatively bright, MV~14, but not overly bright, so it is an ideal object for the K2 set-up. The positional uncertainty of Pluto over the observing period is less than a Kepler pixel providing starlike PRFs in a single K2 observation. Therefore, monitoring Pluto, which moves only a few arcminutes per night, requires a target pixel mask over its path on the FOV. Pluto's rotation period is 6.387 days so the collected 30-min integration "long cadence" datapoints will provide measurements of nearly 12 full rotations of Pluto and its companions. Likewise, the 3-month baseline also allows us to sample seasonal variations and solar phase angles ranging from 1.7°-0.2° during Campaign 7. The continuous 30-minute sampling interval provides a time resolution not possible from any other observatory. Some complications for interpreting the dataset will result from the large pixel scale, but the high sampling density will allow for disentanglement of the individual Pluto-Charon lightcurves. 
 
This will be the highest resolution Earth-centered dataset of the Pluto system ever collected and will provide critical long time baseline photometry for tying the New Horizons sub-disk photometry to disk integrated observations. This dataset is critical for our continued study of Pluto's evolving surface-atmosphere interaction as it recedes from the Sun and of the influence of Pluto and Charon on each other. It will also provide insight for interpretation of other dwarf planets and Kuiper Belt objects in the third zone of our Solar System.

# Targets requested by this program that have been observed (234)
EPIC ID, RA (J2000) [deg], Dec (J2000) [deg], magnitude, Investigation IDs
200062594, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062595, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062596, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062597, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062598, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062599, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062600, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062601, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062602, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062603, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062604, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062605, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062606, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062607, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062608, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062609, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062610, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062611, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062612, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062613, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062614, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062615, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062616, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062617, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062618, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062619, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062620, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062621, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062622, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062623, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062624, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062625, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062626, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062627, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062628, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062629, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062630, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062631, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062632, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062633, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062634, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062635, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062636, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062637, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062638, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062639, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062640, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062641, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062642, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062643, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062644, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062645, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062646, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062647, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062648, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062649, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062650, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062651, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062652, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062653, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062654, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062655, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062656, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062657, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062658, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062659, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062660, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062661, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062662, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062663, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062664, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062665, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062666, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062667, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062668, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062669, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062670, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062671, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062672, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062673, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062674, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062675, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062676, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062677, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062678, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062679, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062680, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062681, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062682, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062683, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062684, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062685, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062686, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062687, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062688, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062689, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062690, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062691, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062692, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062693, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062694, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062695, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062696, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062697, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062698, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062699, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062700, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062701, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062702, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062703, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062704, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062705, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062706, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062707, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062708, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062709, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062710, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062711, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062712, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062713, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062714, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062715, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062716, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062717, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062718, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062719, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062720, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062721, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062722, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062723, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062724, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062725, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062726, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062727, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062728, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062729, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062730, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062731, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062732, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062733, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062734, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062735, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062736, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062737, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062738, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062739, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062740, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062741, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062742, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062743, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062744, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062745, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062746, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062747, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062748, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062749, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062750, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062751, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062752, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062753, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062754, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062755, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062756, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062757, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062758, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062759, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062760, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062761, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062762, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062763, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062764, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062765, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062766, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062767, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062768, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062769, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062770, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062771, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062772, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062773, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062774, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062775, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062776, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062777, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062778, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062779, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062780, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062781, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062782, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062783, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062784, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062785, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062786, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062787, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062788, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062789, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062790, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062791, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062792, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062793, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062794, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062795, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062796, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062797, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062798, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062799, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062800, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062801, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062802, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062803, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062804, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062805, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062806, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062807, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062808, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062809, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062810, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062811, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062812, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062813, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062814, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062815, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062816, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062817, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062818, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062819, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062820, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062821, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062822, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062823, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062824, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062825, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062826, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE
200062827, , , , GO7012_LC|LC_pluto__TILE